






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 





























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w« B BURFORD. LITH 1ND* 




INDIANAPOLIS 


1530 . 


INDIANA 


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POLITICAL 

PARTIES. 


1789 - 1790 . 

NO PLATFORMS. 


EXTRACT OF KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS, NOVEMBER 10th, 1798. 

unauthoritatire 
that tins gov- 
powers delegated 

thof oo in «n nii, 0 r ' *.-‘"o uuiiamuiiun, mu measure oi its powers; bin 

4 or P', lf <, M T l S , i : J I,,art a, “°" g P ar, . ,es h * Tln * no judge, each party has aa equal right lu 

Jtiuge lor itseliy as well ot infractions as oi me inode aud measure ol redress. 



EXTRACT OF VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS, DECEMBER 24th, 1798. 

Bttt dved, Th at thto assembly^loth emphatically ami peremptorily declare that it views the powers of the 



authorities, rights, aud liberties appertaining to the 


EXTRACT OF KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS, NOVEMBER 14th, 1799. 

Resolved , That the several states who formed that instrument [constitution] being sovereign and independent, 
have the unquestionable right to judge of the infraction; and that a nullification by those sovereignties, of aii 
ucruthonzed acts done under color ot that instrument, is the rightful remedy. 


1800 . 

NO FEDERAL PLATFORM. 


REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, PHILADELPHIA. 

I. An inviolable preservation of the federal constitution, according to the true sense In which it was adopted 
by the states, that in which it was advocated by its friends, aud not that which its enemies apprehended, who, 
therefore, became its enemies. 

2. Opposition to mouarehizing its features by the forms of its administration, with a view to conciliate a tran¬ 
sition, first, to a president and senate for life; and, secoudly, to an hereditary tenure of those offices, and thus to 
worm out the eleotivo principle. 

3. Preservation to the states of the powers not yielded by them to the Union, and to the legislature of the 
Union its constitutional share in division of powers; and resistance, therefore, to existing movements for trans¬ 
ferring all the powers of the stales to the general government, aud all of those of that goverumeut to the execu¬ 
tive brauoh. 

4. A rigorously frugal administration of the government and the application of all the possible savings of 
the public revenue to tlm liquidation of the public debt; and resistance, therefore, to all measures looking to a 
multiplication of officersand salaries, merely to ereate partisans and to augment the public debt, on the prin¬ 
ciple of ite being a public blessing. 

5. Reliance for internal defense solely upon the militia, till actual invasion, and for such a naval force only, 
as may be sufficient to protect our coasts and harbors from depredations; and opposition, therefore, to the policy 
of u standing army in time of peace which may overawe the public sentiment, and to a navy, which, by its own 
expenses, and the wars in which it will implicate us, will grind us with public burdens and sink us under them. 

6. Free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and little or no diplomatic establishment 

7. Opposition to linkingjourselves by new treaties with thesquarrels of Europe, entering their fields ot 
slaughter to preserve their balance, or joining in the confederacy of kings to war against the principles of 
liberty. 

8. Freedom of religion, and opposition to all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one 6ect over 
another. 

9. Freedom of speech and of the press; and opposition, therefore, to all violations of the constitution to 
silence, by force, and not by reason, the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens agaiust the con 
duct of their public agents. 

10. Liberal naturalization laws, under which the well disposed of all nations who may desire to embark their 
fortunes with us and share with us the public burdens, may have that opportunity, under moderate restrictions, 
for the development of honest intention, and severe ones to guard against tho usurpation of our fiug. 

II. Encouragement of science and the arts in all their branches, to the end that the American people may 
perfect their independence of all foreign monopolies, institutions, and influences. 


1801 - 1811 . 

NO PLATFORMS. 


1812 . 

NO REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. 

NO FEDERA L PLATFORM. 
CLINTONIAN PLATFORM, NEW YORK, AUGUST 17. 


1. Opposition to nominations of chief magistrates by congressional caucuses, as well because such practices 
are the exercise oi uudelegated authority, as of their repugnance to the freedom of elections. 

2. Opposition to all customs and usages in both the executive and legislative. departments 

-,.,1.,. „t „n official iwsnrv to prescribe tenets of political faith, the line c. . . . 

i o L 


2. Opposition to all customs and usages in both tne exccuiive anu legisiav.vo ucpai imems which have for 
their object the maintenance of an official regency to prescribe tenets of political faith, the line of conduct to be 
deemed fidelity or recreancy to republican principles, aud to perpetuate in themselves or families the offices ol 

tho federal government. t 0 f particular states to monopolize the principal offices of the govern¬ 

ment as well becauseo^the?certainty 1 o destroy the harmony which ought to prevail amongst all the constm,- 
“ t ,mrt« of tlm U ionas o their eanings toward a form of oligarchy entirely at variance with the theory of 
republican government^and.cons^pienfly, particular opposition to continuing a citizen of Virginia n the 
executive office another term unless she can show that she enjoys a corresponding monopoly of talents am) 
patriotism,° af ter she*has been CorSi wfth the presidency for twenty out of twenty-lour years of our constitu¬ 


tional existence, and when it is obvious that the practice has arrayed the agriei 
-uial against the commercial interests of the country. 

4. Opposition to continuing public men for long periods in offices of delicate tru 
and weighty responsibility as the reward of public services, to the detriment of all 
or any particular interest in, or section of, the country ; and, consequently, to tho 
continuance of Mr. Madison in an office which, in view of our pending difficulties 
with Great Britain, requires an incumbent of greater decision, energy, and,efficiency. 

5. Opposition to the lingering inadequacy of preparation for the war with Great 
Britain, now about to ensue, and to tlie measure which allows uninterrupted trade 
with Spain aud Portugal, which, as it caunot be carried on under our flag, gives to 
Great Britain the means of supplying her armies with provisions, of which they 
would otherwise be destitute, and tints affording aid aud comfort to our enemy. 

6. Averment of the existing necessity for placing the country in a condition for 
aggressive action for the conquest of the British American Provinces, and for the 
defense of our coasts and exposed frontiers; and of the propriety of such a levy of 
taxes as will raise the necessary fuDds for the emergency. 

7. Advocacy of the election of DcWitt Clinton as the surest method of relieving 
the country from all the evils existing and prospective, for the reason that his great 
talents and inflexinle patriotism guaranty a firm and unyielding maintenance of our 
national sovereignty, aud the protection of those commercial interests wnich were 
flagging under the weakness and imbecility of the administration. 


1811 . 

RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE HARTFORD CONVENTION, JAN. 4th. 

Resolved, That It bo and is hereby recommended to the legislatures of the several 
states represented in this convention, to adopt ail such measures as may be necessary 
effectually to protect the citizens of said states from the operation and etfecls of all 
acts which have been or may be passed by the Congress of the United States, which 
shall contain provisions subjecting the militia or other citizens to forcible drafts, 
conscriptions or impressments nut authorized by tho constitution of tho United 
States. 

Resolved, That it be and is hereby recommended to the said legislatures, to au¬ 
thorize an immediate ami an earnest application to be made to t lie government of the 
United States, requesting their consent to some arrangement whereby the said states 
may, separately or in concert, be empowered to assume upon themselves the defense 
of their territory against tlie enemy, aud a reasonable portion of the taxes collected 
within said states may bo paid into the respective treasuries thereof, and appropri¬ 
ated to tho balance due said states aud to tne future defense of the same. The 
amount so paid into said treasuries to bo credited, and the disbursements made as 
aforesaid, to be charged to the United States. 

Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the legislatures of the aforesaid 
states, to pass laws where it has not already been done, authorizing the governors or 
commanders-in-ehief of their militia to make detachments from the same, or to form 
voluntary corps, as shall be most convenient and conformable to their constitutions, 
and to cause the same to be well armed, equipped, and held in readiness for service, 
aud upon request of the governor of either ol the other states, to employ the whole 
of such detachment or corps, as well as the regular forces of the stale, or such part 
thereof as may bo required, and can be spared consistently with the safety of the 
state, in assisting the state making such request to repel any invasion thereof, which 
shall be made or attempted by the public eueiny. 

Resolved, That the following amendments of the constitution of the United States 
be recommended to the states represented as aforesaid, to bo proposed by them lor 
adoption ny the state legislatures, and in such cases.as may be deemed expedient by 
a convention chosen by the people of each state. And it is further recommended 
that the said states shall persevere in their efforts to obtain sucU amendments, until 
the same shall be effected. 

First. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several 
states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective num¬ 
bers oi free persons, including those bound to serve ior a term oi years, and exclud¬ 
ing Indians not taxed, and alt other persons; 

Second. No new state shall be admitted into the Union by Congress, in virtue 
of the power granted in tho constitution, without the concurrence oi two-thirds of 
both houses; 

Third. Congress shall not have power to lay an embargo on the ships or vessels of 
the citizens of me United Stales, in the ports or harbors tnereof, ior more than sixty 
days; 

f ourtii. Congress shall not have power, without the concurrence of two-thirds oi 
both houses, to interdict the commercial intercourse between the United States and 
any foreign nation or the dependencies thereof; 

Fifth. Congress shall not make nor declare war, or authorize acts of hostility 
against any foreign nation, without the concurrence of two-thirds of botli houses, 
except such acts of hostUity be in defeuse of the territories of the United States 
when actually invaded; 

Sixth. No person who shall hereafter be naturalized, shall be eligible as a mem¬ 
ber of the Senate or House of Representatives of the United States, nor capable of 
holding any civil office under the authority of the United States , 

Seventh. 'I lie same persou shall not be elected President of the United States a 
second time, nor shall the President be elected Rom the same stale two terms in suc¬ 
cession. 

Resolved, That if the application of these states to the government of the United 
States, recommended in a foregoing resolution, should be unsuccessful, and peace 
should nut be concluded, and the defense of these states should be neglected, as it 
has been since the commencement of tho war, it will, in ttie opinion of this con¬ 
vention, be expedient f u r the legislatures of tho several states to appoint delegates 
to mother convention, to meet at Boston, in the state ot Massachusetts, on tho mini 
Monday of June next, with such powers aud instructions as the exigency oi a 
crisis so momentous may require. 

Resolved, That the Honorable George Cabot, the Honorable Chauncey Goodrich, 
the Honorable Daniel Lyman, or any two of them, be authorized to call another 
meeting of this convention, to be holden in Boston at any lime before new delegates 
shall be chosen as recommended in the above resolution, if in tlieir judgment the 
situation of the eountry shall urgently require it. 


1812 - 1829 . 

NO PLATFORMS 


1830 . 

ANTI-MASONIC RESOLUTION, PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER. 

Resolved, That it is recommended to the people of the United States, opposed to 
secret societies, to meet in convention on Monday, the 2lith day of September, 1851, 
at the city of Baltimore, by delegates equal in number to their representatives in 
both Houses of Cougress, to make nominations of suitable candidates for the offices of 
President and Vice President, to be supported at the next election, and for the trans¬ 
action of such other business as the cause of Anti-Masonry may require 


1832 . 

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, ADOPTED AT A RATIFICATION 
MEETING AT WASHINGTON CITY, MAY 11th. 

Resolved, That an adequate protection to American industry is indispensable to 
the prosperity of the country ; and that an abandonment of the policy at this period 
would be attended with consequences ruinous to the best interests of the nation. 

Resolved, That a uniform system of internal improvements, sustained ami sun- 
ported by the general government, is calculated to secure, in the highest degree the 
harmony, the strength ami permanency of the republic. 

Resolved, That the indiscriminate removal of publie officers for a mere difference 
of political op uion, is a gross abuse of power; and that the doctrine lately boldly 
preached in the United Stales Senate, that “to the victors belong the spoils of the 
vanquished, is detrimental to the interest, corrupting to the morals, and dangerou* 
to the liberties of the country. b 


1830 . 

L0C0-F0C0 PLATFORM, NEW YORK, JANUARY. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created free and equal- 
that they are endowed by t heir Creator with certain inalienable rights, amon« which 

art) lixc 9 liberty, and the pursuit of happiness j that the true foundation of repub* 


lican government is the equal rights ot 
in his person and property, aud in their _ 
ment; that the idea is quite unfouuded th.. 
entering into society we give up any natural right, 
that the rightful power of all legislation is to declare 
and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and 
to take none of them from us; that no man has the 
natural right to commit aggressions on the equal 
rights of another, and this is all from which the law 
ought to restrain him; that every man is under tho 
natural duty of contributing to the necessities of 
society, and this is all the law should enforce on 
him; that when the laws have declared and enforced 
all this, they have fulfilled their functions. 

We declare unqualified hostility to bank notes and 
paper money as a circulating medium, because gold 
and silver is tho only safe and constitutional cur¬ 
rency ; hostility to any and all monopolies by legis¬ 
lation, because they are violations of equal rights of 
the people; hostility to the dangerous and uncon¬ 
stitutional creation of vest 'd rights or prerogatives 
by legislation, because they are usurpations of the 
people’s sovereign rights; no legislative or other 
authority in the body politic can rightfully, by 
charter or otherwise, exempt any man or body of 
men, in any case whatever, Irom trial by jury and 
the jurisdiction or operation of tho laws which 
govern the community. 

We hold that each and every law or act of incor¬ 
poration, passed by preceding legislatures, can be 
rightfully altered and repealed by their successors; 
and that they should be altered or repealed, when 
necessary for the public good, or when required by 
a majority of the people. 


1836 . 

WHIG RESOLUTIONS, ALBANY, N. Y., 
FEBRUARY 3d. 

Resolved, That in support of our cause, we invite 
all citizens opposed to Martin Van Buren and the 
Baltimore nominees. 

Resolved, That Martin Van Buren, by intriguing 
with the executive to obtain his influence to elect 
him to the presidency, has set an example dangerous 
to our freedom and corrupting to our free institu¬ 
tions. 

Resolved, That the support we render to William 
H. Harrison, is by no means given to him solely on 
account of his brilliant aud successful services as 
leader of our armies during the last war, but that 
in him we view also the man of high intellect, the 
stern patriot, uncontaminated by the machinery of 
hackneyed politicians—a man of the school of Wash¬ 
ington. 

Resolved, That in Francis Granger we recognize 
one of our most distinguished fellow-citizens, whose 
talents we admire, whose patriotism we trust, and 
whose principles we sanction. 


1839 . 

ABOLITION RESOLUTION, WAR8AW, N. Y., 
NOVEMBER 13th. 

Resolved, That, in our judgment, every considera¬ 
tion of duty and expediency which ought to control 
the action of Christiau freemen, requires of the Abo¬ 
litionists of the United States to organize a distinct 
and independent political party, embracing all tho 
necessary means for nominating candidates for office 
and sustaining them by public suffrage. 


1840 - 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,BALTIMORE 
MAY 5th. 


Resolved, That the Federal government is one of 
limited powers, derived solely from the constitution, 
and thegrautsof power shown therein ought to bj 
strictly construed by all the departments and agents 
of the government, and that it is inexpedient aud 
dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. 

2. Resolved, That the constitution does not confer 
upon t ho general governinen t tho power to coni ntence 
and carry ou a general system of internal improve¬ 
ments. 

3. Resolved, That the constitution does not confer 
authority upon the Federal government, directly or 
indirectly, to assume the debts of the several states, 
contracted for local internal improvements or other 
state purposes; nor would such assumption he just 
or expedient. 

4. Resolved, That j'ttstice and sound policy forbid 
the Federal government to luster one branch of in¬ 
dustry to the detriment of anoiher, or to cherish thj 
interests of one portion to the injury of another por¬ 
tion of our common country—that every citizen and 
every section of the country has a right to demand 
and insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, 
and to complete and ample protection of persons and 
property Irom domestic violence or foreign aggres- 

fiinn 00 


5. Resolved, That it is tho duty of every branch 
of the government to enforce and practice the most 
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, aud 
that no more revenue ought to be raised than is 
required to defray tho necessary expenses of the 
government. 

6. Resolved , That Congress has no power to charter 
a United States bank, that v* o believe such an insti¬ 
tution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of 
the country, dangerous to our republican institutions 
and the liberties of the people, and calculated to 
place tho business of the country within the control 
of a concentrated money power, and above the la ws 
and tho will of the people. 

7. Resolved , That Congress has no power, under 
the constitution, to interfere with or control the do¬ 
mestic institutions of tho several states; and that 
such states are the sole and proper judges of every¬ 
thing pertaining to their own alfairs, not prohibited 
by the constitution; that all efforts, by Abolition¬ 
ists or others, made to induce Congress to interfere 
with questions of slavery, or to take incipient steps 
in relation thereto, are calculated to lead to tho most 
alarming and dangerous consequences, and that all 
such efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish 
the happiness of tho people, and endanger the sta¬ 
bility and permanence of the Union, and ought not 
to be countenanced by any friend to our political 
institutions. 


11 f.... m.Muimuiis is mu 

pensablo for the safety of the funds of the gorcr 
ment ana the rights of the people. 































d f That tho liberal principles embodied 
v-rson ia the Declaration of Independence* 
- sanctioned ia the constitution, which makes 
oars t ie land < f liberty and the asylum of the op¬ 
pressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal 
pi ujciples in the democratic faith: aiid every attempt 
to abridge the present privilege of becoming citizens, 
and th i owners of s i! among us, ought t o bo resisted 
with toe same spirit which swept tho alien aud 
sedition laws from our statute book. 

II Several of tlio stab s which have noml- 

m od Ma-tinV.in Bu cn as a candidate for tho ,>r si- 
tlcnoy, have pit in nomination different indiviiiur.li 
ns candidate's for Vice-President, thus indicatin '’t 
diversity of opinion rs to tlio person best entitled tc 
tae nomination; a:i i vlv-rens, some of the said 


given to it by the Supremo Court of tho United 
States in the cast of Prig? vs. Pennsylvania he cor¬ 
rect, nullifies tho habeas corpus acts of all tho 
states, takes awr.y tho whole legal security of por- 
smal freedom, aud ought, therefore, to be immedi¬ 
ately repealed. 

11. Resolved, That tho peculiar patronage and 
support hitherto extended to slavery and slave¬ 
holding, by the general government, ought to be 
immediately .withdrawn, and the example and 
influence of national authority ought to bo arrayed 
on the side of liberty and free labor. 

15. Resolved, That the practico of flic general 
government, which prevails in the slave states, of 
employing slaves upon the public works, instead of 
free laborers, and paying aristocratic masters, with a 
view to secure or rravard p'ditieal services, is utterly 
indefensible and ought to he abandoned. 

16. Resolved, That freedom of speech, and of the 


12. Resolved, That our title to the vlwJe of the 

territory of Oregon is clear and to^i.Kb iid 

no nortiou of the sumo ought to ho ceded to lmgi.uiu 
or, n rot her power, and that the rc-occupat.on of 
Oregon and the re-annexation of Texas at, tho earli¬ 
est practicable period, are great American measures, 
which this convention recommends to tho coidial 
support of the democracy of tho l nioti. 


ISIS. 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, 
MAY 22d. 


1. Re 


nlvnl, Tliat, tin American democracy place 


if tho few at tho expense of the many, and hv a 
vigilant and constant adherence to those principles 
ind com promises of tho constitution, which are 
3road enough and stryng enough to embrace and 
iphold ill* Union as it was, tlio Union as it is, and 
tlm Union as it shall bo in iho full expansion cf Hie 
>;i rgies and capacity of this great mid progressive 

That, ft copy of iliese resolutions he 
forwarded, through the American minister at Paris, 
in tlio .National Convention of the Republic oi 

France. . , , .... , 

21. Resolved. That tho fruits of the great poll!teal 


rintes are not represented in this convention, there¬ 
fore, 

Resolved, That the convention d-om it exncdicni 
nt thu present lime not to choose between the indi- 
viduals in nominaiim, but to leave tho decision tc 

!_VF” e P" h,ic *. n follow-citizens in the several states, rules, regulations and laws, in derogation of either, mthelcMiv 'tYieV'P-eitr will; a in'! contrast it with 


i I lt iHlzf’us in me several tunes, rules, regulations and laws, in derogation of either, 

<v »_. . . bof ?r® faction shall take place, are oppressive, unconstitutional, aud not to bo en- 

, iieir opinions will become so concentrated as tc darc'd by free people. 

17. Resoltrd, That we regard voting, in an etui 


, - - - i ictt tint; i ’i v" u i |" ’»«* • » ■ • - . 

press, and the right of petition, and the right of: to maintain before the world, as tne great moral ele- 
trial by jury, are sacred and inviolable; and that all J men , j n a („ rm 0 f government springing from and 


triumph of 18-11, which elected .lames K. Polk and 
, Hedge M. Dallas, President and Vice President of 
the United .States, have fulfilled the hopes of the 
their tru-t in Iho intelligence, tlio patriotism, andU em ocracy of the Union in defeating the declared 
the discriminating justice of tho American people. rposea 0 f their opponents in creating a National 
2. Rrsntv"l, That wo regard this as a distinctive^^ i a prevcutingthecorruptnnd unconstitutional 
feature of our political creed, which we are proud |j str i tuition <>f the land proceeds from the common 


treasury of the Union for local purposes, in protect¬ 
ing the currency and labor of the country from 
ruinous fluctuations; and guarding the money of 


secure the choice of a Vice-President by the electoral 
college. 


aver name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of 
, the constituent, and which conceives no imposture 
nent degree, a* a moral and religious duty, which, to monstrous for tlio popular credulity. 


the creed and practice of federalism, under wliat- j 1(J Cl(im try fur the use of tlio people by the estab¬ 
lishment of tlieconstitutional treasury; in the noble 

impulse given to the cause of free trade by the repeal 


8. R -wived. Therefore, that ente'rtaining these 
views, the Democratic party of this Union, through 


j when exercised, should bo by voting for those who 

will do all in their power for immediate emancipa- ___ 

Hon. | the delogates'assdnided'in general convention of the 

18. Resolved, That this convention recommend to : sta(e ,. com j n g together in a spirit of concord, of de- 
the friends ..f liberty in all those free states where Tot i 0 n to the doctrines and faith of a free represen ta- 

.ppealing to their fellow- 
ot thei 


1S4S. 

LIBERTY FLATFORM, BUFFALO, AUO. 30th. 

1. Resolved, That human brotherhood is a cardinal an F inequality of rights and privileges exists on | tWe government, and api 
principle of true democracy, as well as of pure account of color, to employ their utmost energies to; citizens f or the rectitude ol 

Christianity, which spurns all inconsistent limita- remove all smh remuants aud ellects of the slave an j reassert before tlio American people, the aeclar- 
tioiis ; and neither the political party which repudi- , . ation of principles avowed by thorn on a former oc- 

ates it, nor the political system which is not based 3 ^Tne constitution of these X nitea States; cation, wfu'n in general convention, tlicv presented 


upon it, can be truly democratic or permanent. 

2. Resolved, That the Liberty party, placing it¬ 
self upon this broad principle, will demand the abso¬ 
lute and unqualified divorce of the general govern- 
roent from slavery, and also the restoration of equal- 


. ■ . , I UlCIUIl, 111 II ill fs ..* - 

is a series of agreements, covenants or contracts he- ; their candidates for the popular suffrage 

tween the people of the United States, each with all, - . 

and all with each ; and, 

Whereas, It is a principle of universal morality, 


that the moral laws of the Creator are paramount to ; t i 10 ‘ 


Resolutions 1, 2, 3 aud 4, of the pluiiurm of 1840, 
were re-affirmed. 

8. Resolved, That it fs the duty of every branch of 


ity of rights among men, iu every stale where the 0,1 human laws; or in the language of an Apostle, 
party exists, or may exist. mat “we ought to obey God rather thau men. 


3. Resolved, That the Liberty party has not been ,a ^' 


government to enforce ami practice the most tl e en( . rgv 
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, aud j^d’hisadminist -- ----- 

that no more revenue ought to l,e raised than is re- L hl . oa( , . t , iat we ten der to him our cordial congratu- 
quired to defray the necessary expenses of t he K ov '“ lations upon t lie brilliant success which has hitherto 


of the tariff of ’42, ami ihe creation of the more 
squill, honest, and productive tariff' of 1846; and 
that, in our opinion, it would be a fatal error to 
weaken the bands of a political organization by 
which these great reforms have been achieved, and 
risk them in the hands of their known adversaries, 
with whatever delusive appeals they may solicit, our 
surrender of that vigilance which is the ouly safe¬ 
guard of liberty. 

22. Resolved, That the confidence of tho democ¬ 
racy of the Union, in the principles, capacity, firm¬ 
ness, and integrity of James K. Polk, manifested by 
his nomination and election in 1844, has been sig¬ 
nally justified by the strictness of his adherence to 
sound democratic doctrines, by tlio purity of pur¬ 
pose, the energy and ability, which have character¬ 
ized li is administration in all our affairs at home and 


organized for any temporary j>ur]H -- by interested IITotraj, Th" principle cf common law—that any eminent, aud for the gradual but certain extinction ' r , ' j ....t-jotic eiiyn-ts and assure him in ad- 
politiciaus, but has arisen from among the people in extract, covenant, or agreement toff, an aetderog- ot the debt created by the prosecution of a just and v 

consequence of a conviction, hourly gaining ground, a v " ,a, «> »"i“L u £2 ll vceess&ry war, alter peaceful relations shall have m^hDreVire?^nt® he esteem: 


- - — y — • g O O i vz■ i >■ | • . . • . . . u- ' - oou > j u iu 

that no other party in the country represents tho inherent immorality has been recognized by been restored. 

.--. *.•*- -• ■ ™. rf-tk. i...ti« ^ tk. s™—» ftinrt ti.il Resolution 5, of the platform of 1840, was enlarged 

by the following: 

And that Urn results of democratic legislation, in 


true principles of American iil«?rtv, or the true one of tlle 3 nsti ccs of the Supreme Court of the 
spirit of the constitution of the United States. F nited States, who in a recent case expressly holds 

4. Resolved, That tho Liberty party has not been “"T"' <>’•” c "' a ' « io 


Organized merely for the overthrow of slaverv; its 
first decided effort must., indeed, be directed against 
slaveholding as l lie grossest and most revolting man- , 
ifestation ofdes|>otism, but it will also carry out the S,ates j when construed as providing for the surroii- 
principle of equal rights into all its practical conse- J 501- . ? fu S i,ive slave, does “rest upoa such a 

... . .... — J i; a : v . n-tsia " in flmt it ia o Aon t rn of 4 a waK o mon r\ f o 


that “any contract that rests upon such a basis 
void:" and, 

ir/iemw, The third clause of th" second section of 
the fourth article of the constitution of the United! 


UK results Ol ue.iioc.il. .C leg. i....uo ,, J u M - , . iv s the candidate 
other financial measures, upon w itch fol . lh " c ^ ce o£ President, a 
he,-,1 made between the two political Keulucky for Vice Presidei 
l country, have demonstrated to careful 


basis,” in that it is a contract to rob "a man of a 
natural right—namely, his natural right to his own 
liberty ; and is therefore absolutely oh/. Therefore, 
tional party but a national party'; was not originated 19 - Resolved, That we hereby give it to be dis- 
i:i a desire to accomplish a single object, but in a Hnctly understood by this nation and the world, 


qucnecs and applications, and support everv just 
measure conducive to individual and social freedom. 
6. Resolved, That the Lilierty parly is not a see- 



this and all ot 
issues have b, 
parties of the 
and practical men of all parties, their soundness, 
safety and utility in all business pursuits. 

Res-i!ti: ions 7, 8 and 9, oi the platform of 1840, 
were here inserted. 

13. Resolved, That the proceeds of the public 
lands ought to he sacredly applied to the national 
objects specified in the constitution; and tint we 

ibution of such 
expedient in 
ion. 

y opposed to 


he will carry with him to his retirement, tlie esteem, 
respect, and admiration of a grateful country. 

2;s. Resolved, That t li is convention hereby present 
to the people of the United States, Lewis Cass, of 
as the candidate of the Democratic party 
and William O. Butler, oi 
esident of the United States. 


1848. 

WHIG PRINCIPLES ADOPTED AT A RATIFI¬ 
CATION MEETING, PHILADELPHIA, 
JUNE 9th. 

1. Resolved, That the Whigs of the United States, 

here assembled by their representatives, heartily 
ratify the nominations of Geneial Zachary Taylor 
as President, and Millard Fillmore as Vice President 


* •* ^ ai U(||.1H ,u n-.i. . . . * , liULlllg 1IUIU IUU X ir''IMnil U1C Ult.UIIH H V'l'l IHMVfl. 01 l MO U 

Resolved , That it was unrterstonr! in thetim^ our allegiance to Him, m all our civil relations, and ^y, w bj ( h he is enabled, under restrictions and re- support. 

_ j i it _ riinr»f><a w h at n at* r, tr-ifo riiti/rme r\r nnhlip fnnp. " ....... , _ . I 1 


veto power, of the United States, and pledge themselves to their 


of the declaration and the constitution, that the •jLces, whether as p irate citizens, or public func- .ponsibilities amply sufficient to guard the public 2.' Resolved, That in the choice of General Taylor, 

mnaries sworn to support the coiistnution of the : u terests, to suspend the passage of a bill w hose as the Whig candidate ior President, we arc glad to 
i’ 1 ; atc ®> t° r r gar 1 aou to treat the tfiirit clause merits cannot secure the approval of two-thirds of discover sympathy with a great popular sentiment 
he fourth arti le oi that lustrum- nt, whenever the Senate and House of Representatives, until the throughout the nation—a sentiment which, having 
1 '5 .j ^.i, .Fa?._ a . s ] a j. e, ! _“_" tt „2 judgment of the people can be obtained thereon, and its origin in admiration of great military success, 

which lias saved the American people from Ihe enr- has been strengthened by the development., in every 
rupt and tyrannical domination of the Bank "f tlio action and every word, of sound conservative opin- 


existenee of slaveryin someof the slates, was in d< r 
ogation of the principles of American liberty, and a 
deep stain upon the character of the countrv, and 

the implied faith of the states and the nation was a I’I?, .... , 

pledged that slavery should never be extended be- nuII and void, and consequently as forming no part 
yond its then existing limits, but should he grade- Tlie constitution of the Lniicd States, w-hent-ver 
ally, and yet, at no distant day, wholly abolished by weare cailed ui»n or sworn to support it 

-.At -_R_ Jt j . 20. Resolved. Tint, the nnwor tFivon to P 


state authority. 


20. Resolved, That the power given to Congre 


Resolved, That the faith of the states and the J] ie constitution, to provide for calling out 


; , United States, and from a corrupting system of gen- ions, and of tri 
egress by gral ixitornal improvements. former days, and 

tne mill- 25. Resolved, That the war with Mexico, pro- as administered 


true fidelity to the great example of 
and to the principles of the Constitution 
' by its founders. 



than freemen, was impres-od on the soil itself. 


from such state, any person sought to be thus tran- 

8. Resolved, That the faith of the states and na- ported, merely because subject to the slave laws of just , 
tion thus pledged, has been shamefully violated by f ^for the 


ly Whig principles 

country, and neither morally nor physically, by fined and clearly asserted, but Whig measures 

1 success. The heart that was with us 

_ - us now, and we have a soldier’s word of 

16. Resolved, That we would he rejoiced at the honor, and a life o£ public and private virtue, as the 


assurance of a peace with Mexico, founded on the 
inciplesof indemnity for the pastand security 


security, 

4. Resolved, That we look on General Tnvlor’s 


future; but that while the ratification of the administration of the government as one conducivi 



1S44. 

WHIG PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, MAY 1st. 


tlio war, should that treaty be rejected. 


'aggressive war; of prosperity—now more than ever 


17. Resolved, That the officers and soldiers who needed to relieve the nation from a burden of debt, 

1 have carried the arms of their country into Mexico, an[ j restore industry—agricultural, manufacturing, 
have crowned it with imperishable glory. Their and commercial—to its accustomed and peaceful 



in the Territories of Louisiana aud Florida; by the 
legislation of Congress; by the protection afforded 
by national legislation and negjtial ion to sharehold¬ 
ing in American vessels, on the high seas, employed 
in the coastwise Slave Traffic; and by the extension 
of slavery far beyond its o iginal limits, by acts o' 

Congress, admitting new slave states into theUnion 
9. Resolved, That the fundamental truths of 

Declaration of Independence, that all men _ 

endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable the country—the distribution of tho proceeds from ism, and give them a right to the profound grati t ude tho interests of the whole country his first trust, 
rights, among which are life, liberty, and tlio Hie sales of the public lands; a single term for the of their e mntry, and the admiration of the world. and whose various duties in past life have been ren- 
pursuit of happiness, was made the fundamental presidency; a reform of executive usurpations—and 18. R-solved, That the Democratic National Con- dered, not on the soil, or under the flag of any 
law of ournational government, hr tlmt amendment generally such an administration of the affairs of vention of thirty states composing the American 3tate or section, but over the wide frontier, and 
the c - —— a , .. 

shall lie 

out due process of Jaw. 

30. Resolved, That we recognize as sound the doc¬ 
trine maintained by slaveliulding jurists, that slav¬ 
ery is against natural rights, and strictly local, and 
that its existence and continuance rests on no other 
support Ilian state legislation, and not on any 
authority of Congress. 

li. Jiesolved, That, the general government has, ! 
under the constitution, no power to establish or con- 


constitution which declares that no permn the country, as shall impart to every branch of the Republic, tender their fraternal_congratulatJons to under the broad banner of the nation, 
e deprived of lite, liberty or property, with- public service the greatest practical efficiency, con- the National Conv 


trolled by a well-regulated and wise economy. 


1844. 


tinue slavery anywhere, and therefore that all trea- form of 1810, were re-affirmed, to which were added 
ties and acts of Congress establishing, continuing or the following: 

favoring slavery in t lie District of Columbia, in the 10. Resolved, That the proceeds of the public lands 
Territory cf Florida, or on tlie high seas, are uucon- ought to be sacredly applied to the national objccis, 


vention of the Republic of France,: 5. Resolved, That standing, as the Whig party 
now assembled as the free suffrage representative of! does, on the broad and firm platform of the consti- 
; the sovereignty of thirty-five millions of Repubii-J tution, braced up by all its inviolable and sacred 
| cans, to establish government on those eternal prin- guarantees and compromises, and cherished in the 
ciplos of equal rights, for which their La Fayette and affections, because protective of the interests of the 
our Washington fought side by side iu the struggle people, we are proud to have as the exponent of our 
for our national independence; and we would espe- opinions, one who is pledged to construe it by the 
dally convey to them, and to the whole people of wise and generous rules which Washington applied 
France, our earnest wishes for the consolidation of to it, and who lias said—and no Whig desires any 
Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, of the plat- their liberties, through the wisdom that shall guide other assurance—that he will make Washington’s 

-, their councils, on the basis of a democratic constitu- administration the model of his own. 

tion, not derived from the grants or concessions of <3. Resolved, That as Whigs and Americans, we 
kings or dyn sties, but originating from the only are proud to acknowledge our gratitude for the great 
true s uree of political po-.ver recognized in the military services which, beginning at Falo Alto, and 

1 1 -• • - na Vista, first awakened the American 


DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, 
MAY 27th. 


ndd men as property!specified in the constitution, and that we are opposed states of this Union—the inherent and inalienable ending at Buena 

ationul jurisdiction, to the laws lately adopted, and to any law ior the right of the pe-'ple, in their sovereign capacity, to people to a just estimate of him who is now our 
distribution of sucii proceeds among the states, as make and to amend their forms of government in Whig candidate. In the discharge of a painful 

: - J: ”“ f, ‘ . J -..* “ ' such manner as the welfare of the community may duty—for his march into the enemy’s country was a 

require^ . . . ..... reluctant one; in the command of regulars at one 

her, and of both com- 
punctual discipline of 
and beloved him; in 
-gotiation of terms for a dejected and desperate 
enemy ; in the exigency of actual conflict when the 
..... . . . balance was perilously doubtful—we have found him 

increased responsibility, upon the Democratic party tlie same—brave, distinguished, and considerate, no 
of this country, as tlie^pariy^of the people^to sus«; heartless spectator of bloodshed, no tritler witli hu- 
. .. 1.. - ... ... .‘ man lifeor human happiness; and we do not know 


stitutional, and all attempts to 1 
wilhin theiiniiis of exclusive national 
ought to be prohibited by law. 

12. Resolved, That the provision cf the constitu- alike inexpedient iu policy and repugnant to the 
tion of the United States which confers exlrao.di-] constitution, 
nary political powers on the owners of slaves, and 
thereby constituting tlio two hundred and 
thousand slaveholders in tho slave states a 

leged aristocracy; anil ihe provision for tho . . . . 

mation of fugitive slaves from service, are anti- interest, to suspend tlio passage of a bill, whose republics on the ruins of despotism in tlio old worlcfj 
republican iri their character, dangerous to thei merits cannot secure the approval of two-thirds of we feel that aiiigh and sacred tlutyjisdcvolved, with 



liberties of (he people, and ought to bo abrogated. Iho .'mate and House of Representatives, until the 
13. Resolved, That the practical operation of the iu Igrncutof the people can he obtained thereon, and 
second of these provisions, is seen in the enactment which lias tiirico saved the American people from lain and advance among u-t Constitutional liberty 


of the act of Congress ri-specting persons escaping the corrupt and tyrannical domination of the bank j equal ty, and fraternity, by continuing to re-ist all which to admire most,"his heroism in withstanding 
from their masters, which act, if the construction of the United States. I monopolies and exclusive legislation lor the benefit] the assaults of the enemy in the most hopeless fields 


of Rncna Vistn—mourning in generous sorrow over 
tlio graves of Ringgold, of Clay, or of Hardin—or in 
giving in the beat of lmtile, terms of merciful capita- 
lat ion to .a vanquished foe at Monterey, and not be¬ 
ing ashamed to avow that lie did it to spare women 
and children, helpless infancy, and moro helpless 
age, against whom no American soldier ever wars 
Such a military man, whose triumphs are neither 
remote nor doubtful, whose virtues tin so trials have 
tested, we are proud to make our candidate. 

7. Resolved, That in support of this nomination 
we ask our Whig friends throughout the nation to 
unite, to co-operate zealously, resolutely, with earn¬ 
estness, in behalf of our candidate, whom calumny 
cannot reach, and with respectful demeanor to our 
adversaries, whose candidates have yet to prove their 
claims on ttie gratitude of the nation. 


1848. 

BUFFALO PLATFORM, UTICA, JUNE 22d. 

IV/iereas, We have assembled in convention, as 
a union of freemen, for tlie sake of freedom, forget¬ 
ting all past political difference, in a common re¬ 
solve to maintain tlio rights of free labor against the 
aggression of the slave power, and to secure free soil 
to a iree people; and, 

Whereas, 'i’lie poli ical conventions recently assem¬ 
bled at Baltimore and Philadelphia—the one" stifling 
the voice of a great constituency, entitled to bo 
heard in its deliberations, and the other abandoning 
its distinctive principles for mere availability—have 
dissolved the national parly organization heretofore 
existing, liy nominating for the chief magistracy of 
the United States, under the slaveholding diction, 
candidates, neither of whom can he supported by tho 
opponents of slavery extension, without a sacrifice 
of consistency, duty, and self-respect; and, 

Whereas, 'These nominations so made, furnish the 
occasion, and demonstrate the necessity of the union 
of the people under the banner of free democracy, 
in a solemn and formal declaration of their inde¬ 
pendence of the slave power, and of their fixed 
determination to rescue tho Federal government 
from its control. 

1. Resolved, therefore, That we, the people here 
assembled, remembering the example of our fathers 
in tliedaysof thefiist Declaration of Independence, 
putting our trust in God for the triumph of our 
cause, and invoking His guidance in our endeavors 
to advance it, do now plant ourselves upon the na¬ 
tional platform of freedom, in opposition to the 
sectional platform of slavery. 

2. Resolved, That slavery in tho several states of 
this Union which recognize its existence, depends 
upon state laws alone, which cannot bn repealed or 
modified by the Federal government, and for which 
laws, that government is not responsible, wo there¬ 
fore propose no intcilcrencc by Congress with slavery 
within the limits of any state. 

3. Resolved, Tiiat the proviso of Jefferson, to pro¬ 
hibit the existence of slavery after 1800, in all the 
territories of the United Slatrs, southern and north¬ 
ern ; the votes of six states and sixteen delegates, in 
the Congress of 1784, for the proviso, to three states 
and seven delegates against it; the actual exclusion 
of slavery from the Northwestern Territory, by the 
Ordinance of 1787, unanimously adopted by the 
states in Congress; and the entire history of that 
period, clearly shows that it was the settled policy 
of the nation not to extend, nationalize, or encour¬ 
age, hut to limit, localize and discourage slavery; 
and to this poli- y, which should never have been 
departed from, the government ought to return. 

4. Resolved, That our fathers ordained the consti¬ 
tution of the United States, in order, among other 
great national objects, to establish justice, promote 
the general welfare, and Beeure the blessings of lib¬ 
erty ; hut expressly denied to the Federal govern¬ 
ment, which they created, all constitutional power 
to deprive any person of life, liberty, or prosperity, 
without due legal process. 

5. Resolved, That in the judgment, of this conven¬ 
tion, Congress has no more power to make a slave 
than to make a king: no moro power to institute or 
establish slavery than to institute or establish a 
monarchy: no such power can be found among those 
specifically conferred by the constitution, or derived 
by just implication from them. 

6. Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal 
government to relieve itself from all responsibility 
for the existence or continuance of slavery wherever 
the government possesses constitutional authority to 
legislate on that subject, and it is thus responsible 
for its existence. 

7. Resolved, That the true, and in the judgment 
of this convention, the only safe ntcans of prevent¬ 
ing the extension of slavery into territory now free, 
is to prohibit its extension in all such territory by 
an act of Congress. 

8. Resolved, That we accept the issue which the 
slave power has forced ttpou us; and totlieirdemand 
for more slave states, and more slave territory, our 
calm but final answer is, no more slave states and no 
more slave territory. Let the soil of our extensive 
domains be kept free for tlio hardy pioneers of our 
own land, and tho oppressed and banished of other 
lands, seeking homes of comfort and fields of enter¬ 
prise in the new wot Id. 

9. Resolved, That the hill lately reported by the 
committee of eight in tho Senate of tho United 
States, was no compromise, but an absolute surren¬ 
der of the rights of the non-slaveholders of all the 
states; and while we rejoice to know that a measure 
which, while opening the door for the introduction 
of slavery into the territories now free, would also 
have opened the door to litigation and strife among 
the future inhabitants thereof, to the ruin of their 
peace and prosperity, was defeated in the House of 
Representatives, its passage, in hot haste, by a ma¬ 
jority, embracing several senators who voted in 
open violation of the known will of their constitu¬ 
ents, should warn the people to see to it, that their 
representatives be not suffered to betray them. 
There must he no more compromises with slavery; 
if made, they must he repealed. 

10. Resolved, That we demand freedom and estab¬ 
lished institutions for our brethren in Oregon, now 
exposed to hardships, peril, and massacre, by the 
reckless hostility of the slave power to tlio establish¬ 
ment of free government and free territories; and 
not only for litem, but ior our new brethren in Cali¬ 
fornia and New Mexico. 

11. Resolved, It is due not only to this occasion, 
but to the whole people of the United States, that 
we should also declare ourselves on certain other 
questions of national policy; therefore, 


















11 Resolved, That wo demand cheap postage for 
the people; a retrenchment of the expenses and 
iiTitrouage of the Federal government; the abolition 
f all unnecessary offices and salaries ; and the elec- 
?L . by the people of all civil officers in the service 
of the government, so far as the same may be prac- 


**% "Resolved, That river and harbor improve¬ 
ments when demanded by the safeiy and conveni¬ 
ence of commerce with foreign nations, or among 
he several states, are objects of national concern, 
I that it is the duty of Congress, in the exercise 
of its constitutional power, to provido therefor. 

14 Resolved, That the free grant to actual settlers, 
in consideration of the expenses they incur in mak¬ 
ing settlements in the wilderness, which are usually 
fully equal to their actual cost, and of the public 
benefits resulting therefrom, of reasonable portions 
of the public lands, under suitable limitations, is a 
wise and just measure of public policy, which will 
promote in various ways the interests of all the states 
of this Union; and we, therefore, recommend it to 
the favorable consideration of the American people. 

15 Resolved, That the obligations of honor and 
patriotism require the earliest practical payment of 
t he national debt, and we are, therefore, in favor of 
such a tariff of duties as will raise revenue adequate 
to defray the necessary expenses of the Federal 
government, and to pay annual installments of our 
debt and the interest thereon. 

1G. Resolved , That we inscribe on our banner, 
«Free Soil, Free Speech, Free labor, and Free 
Men,” and under it we will fight on, and fight 
ever, until a triumphant victory shall reward our 
exertions. 


1852 . 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, 
JUNE 1st. 

Resolutions 1,2, B. 4, 5, G, and 7 of the platform of 
1845 were re-affirmed, to which were added the fol¬ 
lowing: 

8. Resolved, That it is the duty of every branch 
of the government to enforce and practice the most 
rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and 
that no more revenue ought to be raised than is re¬ 
quired to defray the necessary expenses of the gov¬ 
ernment, and for the gradual but certain extinction 
of the public debt. 

9. Resolved, That Congress has no power to charter 
a National Hank ; that we believe such an iustitution 
one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the 
country, dangerous to our republican institutions 
and the liberties of the people, and calculated to 
place the business of the country within the control 
of a concentrated money power, and that above the 
laws and the will of the"people; and that the results 
of Democratic legislation, in this and all other finan¬ 
cial measures, upon which issues have been made 
between the two political parties of the country, 
have demonstrated to candid and practical men of 
all parties, their soundness, safety, and utility, in 
all business pursuits. 

10. Resolved, That the separation of the moneys 
of the government from banking institutions, is in¬ 
dispensable for the safety of the funds of the gov¬ 
ernment and the rights of the people. 

11. Resolved, That the liberal principles embodied 
by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, 
and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes 
ours the land of liberty and the asylum of the op¬ 
pressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal 
principles in the Democratic faith; and every at¬ 
tempt to abridge the privilege of becoming citizens 
anu the owners of the soil among us, ought to lie 
resisted with the same spirit that swept the alien 
and sedition laws from our statute book. 

12. Resolved, That Congress has no power under 
the constitution to interfere with, or control 1 lie 
domestic institutions of the several states, and that 
such states are the sole and ptoper judges of every¬ 
thing appertaining to their own affairs, not prohib¬ 
ited by the constitution; that all efforts of the 
Abolitionists or others, made to induce Congress to 
interfere with questions of slavery, or to take incip¬ 
ient steps in relation thereto, are calculated to lead 
to the most alarming an 1 dangerous consequences; 
and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency 
to diminish the happiness of the people, and endan¬ 
ger the stability and permanency of the Union, and 
ought not to be cnutiteuuuced by any friend of our 
political institutions. 

13. Resolved, That, the foregoing proposition covers, 
and is intended to embrace, the whole subject of 
slavery agitation in Congress; and therefore (lie 
Democratic party of the Union, standing on this 
national platform, will abide by, and adhere to, a 
faithful execution of the acts known as the Compro¬ 
mise measures settled by the last Congress, the act 
for reclaiming fugitives from service or labor ” in¬ 
cluded; which act, being designed 10 carry out an 
express provision if the constitution, cannot, with 
fidelity thereto, be repealed, nor so changed as to 
destroy or impair its efficiency. 

14. Resolved, That the Democratic party will re¬ 
sist all attempts at renewing in Congress, or out of 
it, the agitation of the slavery questio.t, under 
whatever shape or color the attempt may be made. 

[Here resolutions 13 and 14 of the platform of 1848 
were inserted. J 

17. Resolved, That the Democratic party will faith¬ 
fully abide and uphold the principles laid down in 
the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1792 and 
1798, and in the report of Mr. Madison to the Vir¬ 
ginia Legislature in 1799; that it adopts those 
principles as constituting one of the main founda¬ 
tions of its political creed, and is resolved to carry 
them out in their obvious meaning and import. 

18. Resolved, That (lie war with Mexico, upon all 
the principles of patriotism and the law of nations, 
was a just and necessary war on our part, in which no 
American citizen should have shown himself opposed 
to liis country, and neither morally nor physically, 
by wordordeed, given aid and comfort to the enemy. 

19. Resolved, That we rejoice at the restoration of 
friendly relations with our sisier Republic of Mex¬ 
ico, and earnestly desire for her all the blessings and 
prosperity which wc enjoy under republican institu¬ 
tions, and we congratulate the American people on 
the results of that war which have so manifestly 
justified tlie policy and conduct of the Democratic 
party, and insured to the United States indemnity 
for the past and security for the future. 

20.. Resolved, That, in view of thecondition of pop¬ 
ular institutions in the old world, a high and sacred 
duty is devolved with increased responsibility upon 
the Democracy of this country, as the party of the 
9 


people, to uphold and maintain the rights of every 
stale, and thereby the union of slates, and to sustain 
and advance among them constitutional liberty, 
by .continuing to resi-t all monopolies and ex¬ 
clusive legislation for (he benefit of the few at the 
expense of the many, and by a vigilant and con- 
stunt adherence to those principles and compromises 
or the constitution which are broad enough and 
strong enough to cmhr.ee ami uphold the Union ns 
it is, and the Union as it should be, iu the full ex¬ 
pansion of the energies and capacity of this great 
and progressive people. 


1852 . 


WHIG PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, JUNE lGlh. 

The Whigs of tlm United States, in convention 
assembled, adhering to the great conservative princi¬ 
ples by which they are controlled and governed, 
and now as ever relying upon the intelligence of 
the American people, with an abiding confidence in 
their capacity for self-government and their devotion 
to the.constitution and the Union, do proclaim the 
following as the political sentiments and determin¬ 
ation for Urn establishment and maintenance of 
which their national organization as a party was 
effected: 

First. The Government of the United States is 
of a limited character, and is confided to the exer¬ 
cise of powers expressly granted by the constitution, 
and such as may be necessary and proper for carry¬ 
ing the granted powers into full execution, and that 
powers not granted or necessarily implied are re¬ 
served to the states respectively and to the people. 

Second. The stale governments should l>e held 
secure to their reserved rights, and the General Gov¬ 
ernment sustained in its constitutional powers, an l 
that tlie naion should be revered aud watched over 
as the palladium of our iiberlies. 

Third. That while struggling freedom everywhere 
enlists the warmest sympathy of the Whig party, 
we still adhere to tho doctrines of the Father of his 
Country, as announced in his Farewell Address, of 
keeping ourselves free from all entangling alliances 
with foreign countries, and of never quitting our 
own to stand upon foreign ground ; that our mission 
as a republic is not to propagate our opinions, or im¬ 
pose on other countries our forms of government, by 
artifice or force; but to teach by example, and sthow 
by our success, moderation and justice, the bless¬ 
ings of self-goverumeut, and the advantages of free 
institutions. 

Fourth. That, as the people make and control 
tho government, they should obey its constitution, 
laws and treaties as they would retain their self- 
respect, and the respect which they claim aud will 
enforce from foreign powers. 

Fifth. Governments should be conducted on the 
|principles of tlie strictest economy; and rev¬ 
enue sufficient for the expenses thereof, in time 
of peace, ought to be derived mainly from a duty on 
imports, and not from direct taxes; and on laying 
such duties sound policy requires a just discrimina¬ 
tion, and, when practicable, by specific duties, 
whereby suitable encouragement may bo afforded to 
American industry, equally to all classes and to all 
portions of the country. 

Sixth. The constitution vestsin Congress ihepower 
to open and repair harbors, and remove obstructions 
from navigable rivers, whenever such improvements 
are necessary for the common defense, and for the 
I protection and facility of commerce with foreign 
nations or among tlie states, said improvements be¬ 
ing in every instauce national aud general in their 
character. 

Seventh. The Federal and state governments are 
parts of one system, alike necessary fori he common 
prosperity, peace aud sc curity, and ought to be re¬ 
garded alike with a cordial, habitual ami immovable 
attachment. Respect for the authority of each, and 
acquiescence in the just constitutional measures of 
each, are duties required by the plainest considera¬ 
tions of national, state and individual welfare. 

Eighth. That the series of acts of the S2d Con¬ 
gress, the act known as the Fugitive Slave Law in¬ 
cluded, are received and acquiesced in by the Whig 
party of the United States as a settlement in princi¬ 
ple and substance of the dangerous and exciting 
questions which they embrace; and, so far as they 
are concerned, we will maintain them, and insist 
upon their strict enforcement, until lime aud expe¬ 
rience shall demonstrate the necessity of further 
legislation to guard against, the evasion of the laws 
on the one hand and the abuse of their powers on 
the other—not impairing their present efficiency; 
and we deprecate all further agitation of the 
question thus settled, asdangerous to our peace, and 
will discountenance all efforts to continue or renew 
such agitation whenever, wherever or however the 
attempt may lie made; and we will maintain the 
system as essential to tlie nationality of tlie Whig 
party, and the integrity of the Union. 


1852 . 

FREE SOIL PLATFORM, PITTSBURG, 
AUGUST 11th. 

laving assembled in national convention as the 
inocracy of the United Stales, united by a com- 
m resolve to maintain right against wrong, and 
edom against slavery: confiding In the intelli- 
lee, patriotism, and discriminating justice of tlie 
nerican people; putting our trust iu God for the 
umph of our cause, and invoking His guidance in 
r endeavors to advance it, wo now submit to tlie 
idid judgment Of all men, the following declara- 
n of principles and measures: . . 

That governments, deriving their ]ust powers 
i' u the consent of the governed, are instituted 
mng men to secure to all, those inalienable rights 
life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, with 
Ich they are endowed by their Creator, and of 
lieh none can be deprived by valid legislation, 
-ept for crime. , , . , 

’ That the true mission of American democracy 
o maintain the liberties of tlie people, the sover- 
Iitv of the slates, and tlie perpetuity of (lie Union, 
the impartial application to public affairs, with- 
L sectional discriminations of tho fundamental 
nciples of human rights, strict justice, and an 
inomical administration. ...... 

That the Federal government is one of limited 
vers derived solely from the constitution, and tlie 
nts of tiower therein ought to be strictly con¬ 
ned by all the departments and agents of the 
rernment, and it is inexpedient and dangerous to 
>rcise doubtful constitutional powers. 


4. That ibe constitution of the United States, or- 
laincd lo form a more perfect Union, to establish 
justice, and secure the blessings of liberty, expressly 
lenies to the general government all power to de¬ 
prive any person of life, liberty, or property, with- 
nit due process of law; aud, literefoie, tlie govern¬ 
ment, having no more power to make a slave than 
to make a king, and no more power to establish 
davery than to establish a monarchy,should at once 
proceed to relieve itself from all responsibility for 
tlie existence of slavery, wherever its possesses con- 
ititutional power to legislate for its extinction. 

5. That, to the persevering and importunate de¬ 
mands of tlie slave power for more slave states, new 
slave territories, and the nationalization of slavery, 
our distinct, and final answer is—no more slave 
slates, no slave territory, no nationalized slavery, 
and no national legislation for the extrad.tion of 
slaves. 

G. That slavery is a sin against God, aud a crime 
against man, which no human enactment nor usage 
can make right; and that Christianity, humanity, 
and patriotism alike demand ils abolition. 

7. Tliattlie Fugitive blave Act of 1850 isrepugnant 
to the constitution, to the principles of the common 
law, to the spirit of Christianity, and to the senti¬ 
ments of tho civilized world ; we, therefore, deny its 
binding force on the American people, and demand 
ils immediate and total repeal. 

8. That the doctrine that any human law is a 
finality, and not subject to modification or repeal, is 
not in accordance with tlie creed of the founders of 
our government, and is dangerous to the liberties of 
tho people. 

9. That the acts of Congress, known as the Com¬ 
promise measures of 185(1, by making the admission 
of a sovereign state contingent upon the adoption 
of other measures demanded by tlie special interests 
of slavery; by llieir omission to guarantee freedom 
in the iree territories; by their attempt to impose 
unconstitutional limitations on tlie powers of Con¬ 
gress and the people to admit r.ew states; by their 
provisions for tlie assumption of five millions of tlie 
state debt of Texas, and for the payment of five mil¬ 
lions more, and the cession of large territory to the 
same state under menace, as an inducement to the 
relinquishment of a groundless claim ; and by their I 
invasion of' the sovereignty of the states and the 
liberties of the people, ihiough tlie enactment of an 
unjust, oppressive, and unconstitutional fugitive 
slave law, are proved to be inconsistent with all ihe 
principles and maxims of democracy, and wholly 
inadequate to tlie settlement of tlie questions of 
which they are claimed to bo an adjustment. 

10. That no permanent settlement of the slavery 
question can be looked for except in the prac¬ 
tical recognition of the truth that slavery is 
sectional and freedom national ; by the total sepa¬ 
ration of the general government from slavery, and 
the exercise of its legitimate and constitutional in¬ 
fluence on the side of freedom ; and by leaving to tlie 
states tlie whole subject ®f slavery and the extradi¬ 
tion of fugitives from service. 

11. That all men have a natural right to a portion 
of the soil; and that as the use of the soil is indis¬ 
pensable to life, the right of all uieu to the soil is as 
sacred as their right to life itself. 

12. That tlie public lauds of the United States 
belong to the people, and should not b • sold lo indi¬ 
viduals nor granted to corporations, but. should be 
lield as a sacred trust for tlie benefit of tlie people, 
and should lie granted in limited quantities, free of 
cost, to landless settlers. 

13. That due regard for the federal constitution, 
a sound administrative policy, demand that the 
funds of the general government be kept separate 
from banking institutions; that inland and ocean 
postage should be reduced to the lowest possible 
point; that no more revenue should be raised than 
is required to defray tlie strictly necessary expenses 
of the public service and to pay off the public debt; 
and that the power and patronage of the govern¬ 
ment should be diminished by the abolition of all 
unnecessary offices, salaries and privileges, and by 
the election by tlie people of all civil officers in the 
service of ihe United States, so far as may be con¬ 
sistent with the prompt and efficient transaction of 
the public business. 

14. That river and harbor improvements, when 
necessary to the safety and convenience of com¬ 
merce with foreign nations, or among the several 
states, are objects of national concern : and it is Ihe 
duty of Congress, in the exercise of its constitu¬ 
tional [lowers, lo provide for the same. 

15. That emigrants and exiles from the old world 
should find a cordial welcome to homes of com¬ 
fort and fields of enterprise in the new; and every 
attempt lo abridge their privilege of becoming citi¬ 
zens and owners of soil among us ought lo be resisted 
with inflexible determination. 

16. That every nation lias a clear right to alter or 
change its own government, and to administer its 
own concerns in such manner as may la st secure the 
rights and promote the happiness of the people ; and 
foreign interference with that right is a dangerous 
violation of the la v of nations, against which all in¬ 
dependent governmcntsshould protest, and endeavor 
by ail proper means to prevent; and especially is it 
the cluty of the Amorioan government, representing 
the chief republic of the world, to protest against 
and by all proper means to prevent tlie intervention 
cf kings and emperors against nations seeking to 
establish for themselves republican or constitutional 
governments. 

17. That the independence of Hayti ought to be 
recognized by our government, and our commercial 
relations with it placed on the footing of tho most 
favored nations. 

18. That ns by the constitution, “ the citizens of 
eaclt state shall be entitled to ail the privileges and 
immunities of citizens iu the several slates,” Ihe 
practice of imprisoning colored seamen of other 
states, while Hie vessels to which they belong lie in 
port, and refusing the exercise of the right to bring 
such cases before the Supreme Court of the United 
Slates, to test the legality of such proceedings, is a 
flagrant violation of the constitution, and an inva¬ 
sion of the rights of the citizens of other states, 
utterly inconsistent with tho professions made by 
the slaveholders, that they wish the provisions of 
tho constitution faithfully observed by every state 
iu the Union. 

19. That we recommend the introduction into 
all treaties hereafter to lie negotiated between the 
United States and foreign nations, of some provision 
for the amicable settlement of difficulties by a resort 
to decisive arbitrations. 

20. That the Freo Democratic party is not organ¬ 
ized to aid either the Whig or Democratic wing of 

11 


the great slave compromise party of the nation, but I Resolved, therefore. That entertaining these views, 
to defeat them both; and that repudiating and re- ^j ]e Democratic party of this Union, through their 
nouncing both as hopelessly corrupt and utterly de ] e g a tes, assembled in general convention, coming 
unworthy of confidence, the purpose of the Free! together in-a a l lirit of concord, of devotion to the 
Democracy is to take possession of the federal gov- doc trines and faith of a free representative govern- 
ernment and administer it for tho better protection ment , and appealing to their fellow citizens for the 
of the rights nud interests of tlie whole people. rectitude of tlieir intentions, renew and re-assert, be- 

21. Tb it wo inscribe on our banner Free Pot], f oro the American people, tne declaration of punci- 

FreeSpeech, Free Labor, and Free Men, and under )es ;lvow ,.<[ [,y them, when, on former occasions, in 
it will fight on and fig it ever, until a triumphant penera i convention, they have presented their can- 
victory shall reward our exertions. delates for the popular suffrage. 

22. That upon this platform, the convention pro- j T[ la t the Federal government, is one of limited 
sents to the American people, as a candidate for the . po ^ er derived solely from the constitution, and the 

United States, John P. Hale, ‘ ntg 0 f power made therein ought to be strictly 


otticenf presidentof the United oinies.joiiu .r. xiaiu, „ rantg ___ „ 

of New Hampshire, and as a candidate for the construed by all the departments and agent-of the 
office of Vice-president of the United States, George government, and that it is inexpedient and dauger- 
W. Julian, of Indiana, and earnestly commend ou3 to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. 


them to the support of all freemen and all parties. 


1856 . 

THE AMERICAN PLATFORM, ADOPTED AT 
PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 21st. 

1. An humble acknowledgment to the Supreme 
Being, for liis protecting cate vouchsafed to our 
fathers in their successful revolutionary struggle, 
and hitherto manifested to us, their descendants, In 


» CACltlOO uw......... - —. • 

2. That the constitution does not confer upon the 
general government the power to commence and 
carry on a general system of internal improvements. 

3. That the constitution does not confer authority 
upon the Federal government, directly or indirectly, 
to assume the debts of the several states, contracted 
for local and internal improvements or other state 

nor would such assumption be just or 


eX j* e 'That justice and sound policy forbid the Fed¬ 
eral government to footer one branch of industry to 

r . .1 . ^ Almrich tno intoroct a 


the preservation of the liberties, the independence, . r ‘ .]„ tr j ment () f another, or to cherish the interests 
and the union of these states. of nnr common countrv; that every 

2. The perpetuation of the Federal Union and ui P ^ every section of the country has a right 

constitution, as the palladium of our civil and reltgi- ; , n(1 ir , s . jst upon a n equality of rights and 

ous liberties, and the only sure bulwarks of Amen- “Sind ample protection of 

can independence. . ..... , persons and property from domestic violence and 

3. Americans must rule. America ; and to this end j <;™ r f “ , * 

native -horn citizens should he selected for all state, IO el e ‘ ej> it i a fh e ff u tv of every branch of the 
federal, and municipal offices of government em- nt to en f or te and practice the most rigid 

ploy ment, in preference to all others. Nevertheless, |ove ' e , public affairs, and that 

4. Persons born of American parents residing ought to beraised than is required 

temporarily abroad, should be entitled to all the . , t n e „ ec essary expenses of the government 

rights of native-born citizens , gradual but certain extinction of the public 

5. No person should be selected for political sta- an [ 1 graauai ou 

tion (whether of native or foreign birth) who recog. debt. d f thR puWic lands ought to 

nizes any allegiance or obligation of any description 6. T hat ^the proceei nil|i( l , n;ll obje cts specified 
to any foreign prince potentate, or power, or who beMiistUiPt on and that we are opposed to any 
refuses to recognize the federal and state constitu- 1“^® r 7kldffitribiIt?onof such proceeds among tlie 

other laws! iS'rX o/po'iuieal affi&n states, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant 

6. The unequ tied recognition aud maintenance to the constitution. * n charter a na- 

of the reserved rights of the several states and the one 

cultivation of harmony and fraternal good-will be- tionalbanK, inaxnet e fi , f tuiscoun- 
tween the citizens of the several states, and, to this of deadly hostility to the 

end, non-interf. rence by Congress with questions f JT. dangerous K> t^^lace the 

appertaining solely to the individual states, and non- liberties of the peop• e, ai d • r ol of a con- 

intervention by each state with the affairs of any business of the country wit awsandvdll 

other state. centrated money power and above tne laws ana win 



LUtJlI PDIISUIUUGU Uim l.IVYO, rtiix* iw J'gitimxj umu i ~ - i r ,f nil rvirtio* 

domestic and social affairs in their own mode, sub- to candid and P rac , tl ®®} 1 '‘^n all business Dursuits 
ject only to tlie provisions of the federal constitu- soundness, safety, and nudity in all^mnmss Pout's 


tion, with the privilege of admission into the Union 
whenever they have the requisite population for one 


8. That the separation of tlie moneys of tlie goy- 
ernment front banking institutions is indispensable 


whenever they have the requisite population tor one ernmcui non. m «om„,ent and the 

Representative in Congress: Provided, always, that to the safety of tlie funds of the g 
none but those who are citizens of the United States rights of the people. , 

under the constitution and laws thereof, aud who 9. That we are decidedly opposed to takin, from 
have a fixed residence in any such territory, ought the President the qualified veto [lower, by which he 
to participate in the formation of the constitution is enabled, under restilollops and responsibilities 
or in the enactment of laws for said territory or amply sufficient to guard the public interests, to 
state. suspend --1 . t»u»i.,«.n,.,n.Mnn n i 

8. An enforcement of the principles that no state secure t 
or territory < 
tlie i 

9. A change in the laws of naturalization, making dominion of the Bank 


suspend the passage of a bill whose merits cannot 
. XI. ruiuimiur,.. ...o secure the approval of two-thirds of the Senate and 

terriiorv ought to admit others than citizens to House of Representatives, until the judgment ot the 
: right of suffrage or of holding political offices of peoplecan he obtained thereon, and win h has sev a 
i United .States the American people from tlie corrupt aud tyrannical 

A change in the laws of naturalization, making dominion of the Bank of the United States and 
a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not from a corrupting system of general internal lm- 
heretnfore provided for, an indispensable requisite provements. ... 

for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers 10. That the liberal principles embodied by Jef- 
and persons convicted of crime from landing upon ferson in the Declaration.of Independence, and sanc- 
our shores; hut no interference with the vested tinned in the Constitution, which^mukes ours ^the 


rights of foreigners. 


land of liberty and the asylum of tlie oppressed of 


10. Opposition to any union between church and every nation, have pver been cardinal principl s in 
state; no interference with religious faith or the democratic faith; and every attempt to abridge 


worship; and no test-oaths lor office. 


the privilege of becoming citizens and owners of s *il 


11. Free and thorough investigation into any and among us, ought to be resisted with the same spirit 
all alleged abuses of public functionaries, and a 
strict economy in public expenditures. 

12. The maintenance and enforcement of ail laws 
constitutionally enacted, until said laws shall be re- 


which swept the alien and sedition laws from our 
Statute books. 

And vkereas. Since the foregoing declaration was 
uniformly adopted by our predecessors in rational 
pealed or shall"be declared null and void by comne- conventions, an adverse political and religious test 
tent judicial authority. has been secretly organized by a party claiming to 

13. Opposition to the reckless and unwise r-ol.Ve be exclusively Americans, and it is proper that the 


s exclusively . . 

of the present administration in the general*"man- American democracy should clearly define its rela- 
agementof ouj national affairs, and more especially t-ions thereto; and declare its dctermin* a opposition 
as shown in removing “Americans” (by designation) to all secret political societies, by whatever name 
and conservatives in principle, from office, aud they may be called— 

placing foreigners and ultraists in their places• a- Resolved, That the foundation of this union of 
■ ” - states having been laid in, and its prosperity, ex¬ 

pansion, and pre-eminent example in free govern¬ 
ment built upon, entire freedom of matters of 


shown in a truckling subserviency to the stronger, 
and an Insolent and cowardly bravado towards tlie 
weaker powers; as shown in re-opening sectional 
agitation, by the repeal of the Missouri Compro¬ 
mise; as shown in granting tounnaturalized foreign¬ 
ers 1 lie right of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; 
as shown in its vacillating course on the Kansas 


religious concernment, and no respect of persons in 
regard to rank, or place of birth, no party can justly 
be deemed national, constitutional, or iu accordance 
with American principles, which bases its exclusive 


axd Nebraska question; as shown in the corruptions organization upon religious opinions and accidental 
which pervade some of tlie departments of the gov- birth-place. And hence a political crusade in the 
eminent; as shown in disgracing meritorious nineteenth century, and in the United States of 
aval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as America, aeainst Cal holies and formgn-born, is 

I.. .1,. t ' i—: . . p naitl.ar inctifioil hv 111. Twit nistnrv nor fittinr. 


shown in the blundering mismanagement of 
foreign relations. 


,, neither justified hv the past history nor future 
| prospects of the country, nor in unison with the 


14. " Therefore, to remedy existing evils and pre- spirit of toleration and enlightened freedom which 
vent tlie disastrous consequences otherwise result- peculiarly distinguishes the American system of 
ing therefrom, we would build tip the “American , popular government. 

Party ” upou the principles hereinbefore stated. Resolved, That we reiterate with renewed energy of 

15. That each slate council shall have authority purpose the well-considered declarations cf former 
to amend their several constitutions, so as to abolish conventions upon the sectional issue of domestic 
the several degrees, and substitute a pledge of slavery, aud concerning the reserved rights of the 
honor, instead of other obligations, for fellowship states—^ 
and admission into the party. 

16. A free and open discussion of all political 
principles embraced in our platform. 


1856 . 

DEMOCRATIC FLATFORM, ADOPTED AT 
CINCINNATI, JUNE 6th. 

-Resolved, That the American democracy place tlieir 
trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and the dis¬ 
criminating] ustice of the American people. 
Besotoed,”riiat we regard this as a distinctive feat- 


1, That Congress has no power under the consti¬ 
tution to interfere with or control the domestic ins i- 
tutions of the several states, and that all such states 
are the sole and proper judges of everything apper¬ 
taining to their own affairs not prohibited by the 
constitution; that all efforts of the Abolitionists or 
others, made to induce Congress to interfere with 
questions of slavery, or to take inoipieut steps in 
relation thereto, are calculated to ii ad to the most 
alarming aud dangerous consequences, and that all 
such efforts have an inevitable tendency to dimin¬ 
ish Ihe happiness of tlie people and endanger the 
stability and permanency of the Union, and ought 


ure of our political creed, which we are proud to not to be countenanced by any friend of our polie 
maintain before the world as a great moral element i leal institutions. 

in a form of government springing from and up- 2. That tho foregoing proposition covers and was 
held by the popular will ; and we contrast it with the intended to embrace the whole subject of slavery 
creed and practice of federalism under whatever agitation in Congress, and therefore the Democratic 
name or form, winch seeks to palsy the will of the| p art y 0 f the Union, standing on this national plat- 
constituent, and which conceives no imposture tool for*" oV,,m« i.., «..j «.*u_*.... *_•.*-* i 1 


monstrous for the popular credulity, 


m, will abide by and ad here to a faithful extM ~ 
tiou of the acts known as t he compromise measures. 

13 























1856. 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, ADOPTED AT 
PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 17th. 

This convention • f <lel g11 os, nssorahlcJ in pursu¬ 
ance of a call addressed to the people of the United 
States, without regard to past political dilleretices or 
divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Mis¬ 
souri Compromise, to the policy of the present ad¬ 
ministration, to the extension of slavery into free 
territory; in favor of admitting Kansas as a free 
state, of restoring the action of the Federal govern- 


settled by tlie Congress of 1850—“the net for re¬ 
claiming fugitives from service or labor” included; 

■which act being designed to carry out an express 
provision of the constitution, cannot, with fidelity 
thereto, be repealed, or so changed as to destroy or 
impair its efficiency. 

3. That the Democratic pnrtv will resist, all at¬ 
tempts at renewing in Congress, or out of it, the 
agitation of the slavery question, under whatever 
shape or color the attempt may be ma<K 

4. That the Democratic party will fn'tMully 
abide by and uphold the principles laid down in the 
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1792 and 1798, 
and in the report of Mr. Madison to the Virginia leg¬ 
islature in 1799; that it adopts these principles as; ai 
constituting one of the main f«>undati< ns of its polit-! f» 
ical creed, and is resolved to carry them out in their 
obvious meaning ami import. 

And that we may more distinctly meet th^ i-sue on 1 promulgate m the Declaration ot liulepe 
which a sectional party, subsisting exclusively on 1 and cnib nlied in the federal constitution, is esseu- 
slavery agitation, now relies to test the fidelity of' tial to the preservation of our It publican institu- 
t* °^ e ’ an< ^ south, to the constitution and ti<»ns, and that the federal constitution, the rights 

^ of the stares, and the Union of the suites, shall be 

1. Resolved, That claiming fellowship with and preserved 
desiring the eo-operation of all who regard the pre¬ 
servation of the Union under the constitution as the 
paramount issue, and repudiating all sectional parties 
and platforms cone ruing domestic slavery which 
seek to embroil the stab s and incite to treason and 
armed resistance to law in the territories, and whose 
avowed purpose, if consummated, must end in civil 
war and disunion, the American democracy recog¬ 
nize and adopt the principles contained in the or¬ 
ganic laws establishing the territories of Nebraska 

and Kansas, as embodying the only sound and safe out due pr>u vss of law, it becomes our duty to main- 
so'ution of the slavery question, upon which the bain this provision of tho constitution against all 
great national idea of the people of this whole attempts to violate it for the purpose of establishing 
country can repose in its determined conservation slavery in anv territory of tho United States, by 
of the Union, ami non-intevfert nce of Congress with positive legislation, prohibiting its existence or 
slavery in the territories or in the District of extension 1 Herein. That we deny the authority of 
Columbia. Congress, of a territorial legislature, of any individ- 

2. That this was the basis of the compromise of ual or ass »ciatinn of individuals, to give legal exist- 
1850, continued by lw»th the Democratic and Whig encc to slavery in any territory of the Uni ted States, 


establish; but aro content to broadly. rest-"hero 
their tattlers rested—upon the constitution of the 
United States, wishing no safer guide, no higher 1 . 

Rcsoltvd, That we regard wit h the deepest inti"A 
and anxiety the present disordered condition < f 
national affairs—a portion of the country' raviq, > 

Civil war, large sections of our popufntlon ei t it 
t.Tcd tiv mutual rocriminntions; and wo ilistinuiy 
trace these calamities to t lie culpable neglect ol duty 
by the present national administration. *• 

Jhsolml, That tho government of the Uritccl 
States was formed bv tho conjunction tn political 



coot the National union. . 

Rrmlvcd, That tho Whigs of the United States 
dare, ns a fundamental article of political faith, 


RestUml, That with our republican fathers we hold 
it to bo a s • f-evident truth that all men are en¬ 
dowed with the iuali mlfle rights to life, liberty, 
ami the pursuit of happiness, and that tho primary 
object an»l ulterior design of our Federal govern¬ 
ment were, to secure tin's© rights to all persons 
within its exclusive juristic! ion: tint ns our repub¬ 
lican fathers, when they had anoli»hcd slavery in 
all our national territory, ordnimd that no person 
should be deprived of life, lil»erl v, or property, wit h- 


y both the Democratic and Whig encc to slavery in any 
parlies in national conventions, ratified by the peo- while the present cunstituti n shall be maintained, 
pie in the election of 1852, and rightly applied to Rcsolve.iL, That the constitution confers ujjou Con- 
the organization of the territories in 1854. gross sovereign power over the territories of tho 

3. That by the uniform application of the Demo- United States for their government, and that in the 
eratic principles to the organization of territories exercise of this power it is both the right and the 
and the admission of new states, with or without imperative duty of Congress to prohibit in theterri- 
domestic slavery, as they may elect, the equal rights lories those t wiu relics of barbarism -polygamy and 
of all the states will be preserved intact, the original slavery. 

compacts of the constitution maintained inviolate. Resolved, That while the constitution of the 
and the perpetuity and expansion of the union in- United .states was ordained and established, in order 
sured tofts utmost capacity of embracing, in peace to form a more perfect uuion, establish justice, in- 

and harmony, every fut ure American state that may sure domestic tranquility, provide for tue common . . . 

Ih 3 constituted or annexed witli a republican form of defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the ^flexibility in executing the laws; but, be\onu all 
government. blessings of lil>erty, and contains ample provisions ! these attributes, in possessing the one transcendent 

Resolved, That, we recognize tho right of the peo- for the protor ion of the life, liberty and property ) uierit of being a representative of nen h i of tin two 
pie of all the territories, including Kansas and Ne- of every citizen, the dearest constitutional rights of .sectional parties now struggling for political suprem- 
brnska, acting through the legally and fairly ex- the people of Kansas have been fraudulently and I ac - v - 
pressed wi'l of the majority of the actual residents, violently taken from them ; their territory lias been 
and whenever the number of their inhabitants invad d by an aimed force; spurious and pre¬ 
tended legislative, judicial and executive officers 
have been set over them, by whose usurped author¬ 
ity, susiaincd by the military power of the govern¬ 
ment, tyranical and unconstitutional laws have been 


unctions, must inevitably prove fatal to a continu¬ 
ance of the National Union. 

7. 

deel.ov, «.o «• ..- .-. . , 

an absolute necessity for avoiding geographical par¬ 
ties. The danger, so clearly discerned by the rather 
of his Cutintrv, lias now become fearfully apparent 
in the agitation now convulsing tho nation, ami 
must be arrested at once if wo would preserve our 
constitution and our Union from dismemberment, 
and the name of America from being blotted out 
lrotn the family of civilized nations. 

Resulted, That all who revere the constitution 
and the Union, must look with alarm at the parties 
in the field in tho present presidential campaign- 
one claiming only to represent sixteen northern 
states, and the other appealing mainly to the pas¬ 
sions and prejudices of tho southern states; that the 
success of either faction must add fuel to the flame 
which now threatens to wrap our dearest interests 
in a common ruin. 

Resolved, That the onl y remedy for an evil so ap¬ 
palling is to support a candidate pledged to neither 
of the geographical sections nor arrayed in political 
antagonism, but holding both in a just and equal 
r gat'd. We congratulate the friends of the Union 
that such a candidate exists in Millard Fillmore. 

Resolved, That, withoutadopting or referring to the 
peculiar d iet l ines of the party which has already 
selected Mr. Fi lmore as a candidate, we look to him 
as a well ti ied and faithful friend of the constitution 
and the Union, eminent alike for his wisdom and 
firmness —for his justice and moderation in our for¬ 
eign relations— for Ids calm and pacific temperament, 
so well becoming the head of a great nation—ior Iris 
devolion to the constitution in its true spirit—his 


justifies it, to form n constitution, with or without 
domestic slavery, and be admitted into the Union 
upon terms of perfect equality witli the other states. 
Resolved, finally. That in view of the condition of 


Resolved, That, in the present exigency of political 
affairs, we are not called upon to discuss the subor¬ 
dinate questions of administration in the exercising 
| of the constitutional powers of the government. It 
is enough to know that civil war is raging, and that 
I ilio Union is in peril; and we proclaim theconvic- 


1860. 


the popular institutions in the old world (and the enacted and enforced; the rights of the people to p‘»n that the restoration of Mr. 1m II more to the pres- 

dangcrous tendencies of sectional agitation, eons* keepand bear arms ha 1 I; test onthsof : 1, h‘ nc '. v Wl1 * furnish the best if not the only means 

binod with the attempt to enforce civil and religious an extraordinary and entangling nature have been restoring peace. 

disabilities against the rights of acquiring and enjoy- imposed, ns a condition of exercisiog the right of- 

ing citizenship in our own land), a high and sacred suffrage and holding office; the right of an accused J 
duty is devolved, with increased responsibility, upon person to a speedy and public 'rial by nn impartial 
the Democratic paity of this country 
of the Union, to uphold and main! 

every state, and thereby the union «. --— --— ■* —• — - 

and to sustain and advance among us constitutional they have been deprived of life, liberty and prop- I . Whereas, Experience has demonstrated that pint 

liberty, by continuing to resist all monopolies and erty without due process of law; that the freedom l0r,MS adopted by the partisan conventions of the 

exclusive legislation for the benefit of the few at the of speech and of the press has been abridged, the gantry have had the effect to mislead and deceive 

right to choose their represent at ivts has been made 1 die people, and at the same time to widen the po¬ 
of no effect; murders, robberies and arsons have htical divisions of the country, by the creation and 
been instigated or en on raged, and the offenders ^neourageineiil of geographical and seetioual parties; 
have l»een allowed to go unpunished; that all these Therefore^ . , 

things have been done with the knowledge, sanction | „■** 'evolved, That it is both the part of patriotism and 


ntrv, as the partv July hastme n denie d; the right of the people tobese- | CONSTITUTIONAL UNION PLATFORM, BAL- 
ntain the rights of cure in their persons, houses,papers cts g inst TfMORE MAY 9th 

lion of the states, unreaaonabk izures, has been violated; | . * _ * 

i -l. i i .1 • i t ■ e t , i TC7i eyv/yrt o T* v nnnnn no rtna n n m At.civnlAH 41%.% 4 v,1a4 


expense of the many, and by a vigilant and constant 
adherence to th'.se principles and compromises of 
the constitution which are broad enough and strong 
enough to embrace and uphold the Union as it was, 
the Union as it is, and the Union as it shall he, in 


tiie full expression of the energies and capacity of and procurement of the present national admitiis- Aety to recot/ni-e no political principles other than 
this great and progressive people. tration; and tliat for II.is high crimeagainst tlie con- The t ONSTitution of tub C’ountuv, tub Ukion 

1. Resolved, That there are questions connected s itution, the union, and humanity, we arraign tho I op THE States, and tub Enforcement OF THE 
with the foreign policy of this country which are administration, tlie president, his advisers, agents, Laws; and that as representatives of the Constitu- 
inferior to no domestic questions whatever. The supporters, apologists and accessories, either before tional Union men of the country, In national cen¬ 


time lias come for tlie people of tlie United States to or after tlie fa ts, before the country and before the I vent ion assembled, we hereby pledge 
declare themselves in favor of free seas and pro- world ; and tl.at it isour fixed purpose to Icing the maintain, protect, and defend, sepaia 


gressive free trade throughout the world, and, by actual pcqietrat rs of these atrocious outrages, and 
solemn manifestations, to place their moral influ- their accomplices, toa sure and condign punishment 
ence at the side of their successful example. hereafter. 

2. Resolved, That our geographical and political Resolved, Tint Kansas should he immediately ad- 

position with reference to tlie other states of this milted as a stale of tlie uuion with her present free 
continent, nolesstlian the interest of our commerce constitution, as at once tlie most effectual way of 
and tlie development of our growing power, reqnijes securing to her citizens tlie enjoyment of the rights 
that we should 'mid sacred tlie principles involved and privilege to which they are entitled, and of 
in the Monroe doctrine. Their hearing and imjiort ending the c ivil strife now raging in her territory, 
admit of no misconstruction, and should be applied Resuhe>l, That I lie highwayman’s plea that “might 
with unbending rigiditv. makes rigid,” etulKxIicd in theOstend circular, was 

3. Resolved, That the'great highway which nature, in every respect unworthy of American diplomacy, 
as well as tlie assent of states most immediately in- and would bring shame aud dishonor upon any gov- 


e ourselves to 
tely a nd unit¬ 



edly, these great principles of public liber t y and 
national safety against all enemies at home and 
abroad, believing that thereby peace may once 
more be restored to the country, tlie rights of tlie 
people and of the states re-established, and tlie gov- 

... __ ] eminent again placed in that condition of justice, 

yment of tho rights J fraternity, and equality, which, tinder the example 
and constitution of our fathers, has solemnly bound 
every citizen of the United States to maintain a 
more peiieet union, establish justice, insure do¬ 
mestic tranquility, providefor the common defence, 
promote the general welfare, aud secure tlie bless¬ 
ings oi liberty to ourselves and our posterity, 


I860. 


REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, CHICAGO, MAY 
17th. 


achievements realized by the sp .... , , 

in the unconquerable energy of our people: and that country, and that the federal government ought to 

result would lie secured by a timely and efficient ren ler immediate and efficient anl in its construc- 

exertion of tlie control which we have the right to ti.ni, and, as an auxiliary thereto, the immediatecoti- I R solved, That wc, tlie delegated representatives 

claim over it; and no power on eartli should besuf- struct ion ot an emigrant route on the line of the | if .lie Republican electors of the United States in 

fered to impede or clog its progress by any interfer- railroad. convention assembled, in discharge of the duty we 

, ence with relations that may suit our policy to . Resolved , That appropriations of Congress for the | owe to our constituents and our country unite in 
1 establish between our government and the govern- improvement of rivers and harbors of a national the following declarations: 
meuts of the states within whose dominions it lies;; character, requir d for the aiemnmod utioii and 1. That the history of the nation during the list 

we can under no circumstances surrender our pre- security of ou r < xi.-nngcommon , ere am I. -i/M by four years, lias fully established the propriety till'd lively demanded by 

pondcrance in the adjustment of allquestions arising the ',!??>!' ^, {‘ht" ,7n'i’n' ,, - a,I ' ,n . of | '■‘•w.-sity of the organization and perpetuation 0 f ! country; that the Federal government ought to 

out of it. . on eiii/ 11 1 01 1 lU 1 J pr0perl f of 113 lllc , l^puWican party, and that tlie causes which vender immediate and efficient aid in its constrtte- 

4. Resolved, That in view of so. commanding an citiz n . ailed it into existence are permanent In their 1 ti,,n i ani1 H>at, as preliminary thereto, a daily over- 

interest, the people of *!? e Untied^.-hV';', ;. M ’i., I’V.! o„oVo!..„^.fT!!®LTo If f ,,atl0n nn ^ ; ,, ro '| .Hire, and now, more Ilian ever before, demand laI ‘L l mail should be promptly* established. 

!’• however diner- its peaceful ai itioii^l triumph. 17. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive 

l ,r . ,r ?: \ the maintenance of the principles pro- 'Principles and views, we invite the co-operation of 

portion of the cot.uneniwn.cn ooveis uic 1 [ n, ' 1 r u /H cl in , the declaration of Independence and em- a, J citizen%s, however differing on other questions, 

across the inter-oceanicisthmus. ____, 1 tlon "l b,,J,e<i 1,1 tlie federal constitution, “That, all men who substantially agree with us in their affirmance 

are created oqus’ - —’ -. * 


Repttldicnn memberof Congress has uttered or eoun 
toiianccd the threats of disunion so often made by 
|i inner tic members, without rebuke and with ap¬ 
plause fiemi tlmir political associates; and wo do- 
j,ounce tlio-o threats of disunion, ill case of a popu¬ 
lar overthrow of their ascendency, as denying the 
vital principles of a free government, ami ns.an 
avowal of contemplated treason, which it is tlie im- 
p-'-nfivo duty of an indignant people sternly to 
rebuke and forever silence. 

4. That tlie maintenance inviolate of the rights 
of tiie states, and especially tlie right of each state, 
to order and control its own domestic institutions 
according to its own judgment exclusively, is essen¬ 
tial to that tmiancoof powers on which tlie perfec¬ 
tion and endurance of our political fabric depends ; 
ami wo denounce tho lawless invasion, by armed 
fmec, of tho soil of any state or territory, no matter 
ui.iL r what pretext, as among tlie gravest of crimes. 

5. That tlie present Democratic administration has 
far exceeded our worst apprehensions, in its meas¬ 
ureless subserviency to the exactions of a sectional 
interest, as especially evinced in its desperate exer¬ 
tions to force the infamous Leeoiupton constitution 
upon tho protesting people of Kansas; in construing 
tlie personal relations between master and servant 
to involve an unqualified property in persons; in its 
attempted enforcement, everywhere, on land and 
sea, through tlie intervention of Congress and of the 
federal courts, of tlie extreme pretensions of a 
purely local interest; and in its general ami unvary¬ 
ing abuse of the power entrusted to it by a confiding 
people. 

6. That the people justly view with alarm the 
reckless extragavance which pervades every depart¬ 
ment of tlie Federal government; that a return to 
rigid economy and accountability is indispensable to 
arrest tlie systematic plunder of the public treasury 
by favored partisans; while the recent, startling de¬ 
velopments of frauds and corruptions at tlie federal 
met i opolis, show that an entire change of adminis¬ 
tration is imperatively demanded. 

7. That the new dogma, that the constitution, of 
its own force, carries slavery into any or all of the 
territories of tlie United States, is a dangerous polit¬ 
ical heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions 
of that instrument itself, with contemporaneous ex¬ 
position, and with legislative and judicial precedent 
— is revolutionary in its tendency, and subversive of 
the peace and harmony of the country. 

8. That the normal condition of all the territory 
of the United States is that of fre dont; that as our 
republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery 
in all our national territory, ordained tliat “ no per¬ 
son should be deprived of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law,” it becomes our duty, 
by legislation, whenever such legislation is necessary, 
to maintain this provision of the constitution against 
all ai tempts to violate it; and we deny the authority 
of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any 
individuals, to give legal existence to slavery in any 
territory of tlie United States. 

9. Tliat we brand tlie recent re-opening of tho 
African slave-trade, under the cover of our national 
dag, aided by perversions of judicial power, as a 
crime against humanity and a burning shame to our 
country and ag;; and we call upon Congr. ss to. take 
prompt and efficient measures for the total and final 
suppression of that execrable traffic. 

10. Tliat in the recent vetoes, by their federal 
governors, ot the acts of the legislatures of Kansas 
and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in those terri¬ 
tories, wc find a practical illustration of tho boasted 
Democratic principle of non-intervention and pop¬ 
ular sovereignty, embodied in the Kansas-Nebraska 
bill, and a demonstration of the deception and 
fraud involved therein. 

11. Tliat*Kansas should, of right, be immedi¬ 
ately admitted as a stale under the cons.itutinn 
recently formed and adopted by her people, and 
accepted by tho ITousoof Representatives. 

12. Tliat, wliiio providing revenue for the sup¬ 
port of tlie general government by duties upon im¬ 
ports, some policy requires such an adjustment of 
these imports as to eucourage the development of 
the industrial interest of the whole country; and 
we. commend that policy of national exchanges 
which secures to tho working men liberal wages, to 
agriculture remunerative prices, to mechanics and 
manufacturers an adequate reward for their skill, 
labor, and enterprise, and to the nation commercial 
prosperity and independence. 

. 13. Tliat we protest against any sale or aliena¬ 
tion to others of the public lands held by actual 
settlers, and against any view of the homestead 
policy which regards tiie settlers as paupers or sup¬ 
pliants fur public bounty; and we demand tho pass¬ 
age by Congress of tlie complete and satisfactory 
homestead measure which has already passed the 
House. 

14. That the Republican party is opposed to any 
change in our naturalization laws, or any state legis 
lation by which tlie rights of citizenship hitherto 
accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall be 
abridged or impaired; and in favor of giving a full 
and efficient protection to tho rights of all classes of 
citizens, whether native or naturalized, both at 
home and abroad. 

15. That appropriations by Congress for river and 
harbor improvements of a national character, re¬ 
quired for tlie accommodation and security of an ex- 
i-ting commerce, are authorized by tlie constitution 
and justified by the obligations of government to 
protect tho lives and property of its citizens. 

16. Tliat a railroad to tlie Pacific ocean is impera- 
the interest of the wliol 


interest,, me people or me .. — * 

sympathize with the efforts which are being made operation of the men . . - _ 

by tlie people of Central America to regenerate that mg from us in other respects, in support of tlie | 
portion of the continent which covers the passage ciples herein declared; and believing that tlie s 
s the inter-oceanic isthmus. of our institutions, as well as tlie constitutic 

5. Resolved Tliat tlie Democratic party will expect our country, guarantees liberty of conscience and 
of the next administration that everv proper effort equality of rights among citizens, we oppise all pro- 
be made to insure our ascendency in tlie Gulf of scriptive legislation affecting their securily. 

Mexico, and to maintain permanent protection to - 

the great outlets tlirough which are empi ied into its 
waters the prolucts raised out of the soil and the 


equal; that they arc endowed by their and support, 
rrator with certain inalienable rights ; that among 
tliese are ide, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; j 
' to secure these rights, governments are insti- 


1860. 


1856. 


WHIG PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, SEPTEMBER 
13th. 


commodities cr ated by tlie industry of the people 
of our western valleys and of tho Union at large- 
6. Resolved, Tliat the administration of Franklin 
Pierce has been true to Democratic principles, and, 
therefore, true to tlie great interests of the country : 
j,i tlie face of violent opposition, lie lias maintained 
the laws at home and vindicated the rights ol 
American citizens abroad, and, therefore, we pro- 
claim our unqualified admiration of his measures them for themselves and their |iosterity. Th 
aud policy. 



14 


Resolved .That llieWIiigs of the TTnitpff nnw _ . ... 

here assembled, hereby duel ire their reverence (or! owes i t su niiree" den n A ^ r?erc-! -o , nati| iti lance of the resolutions unanimously adopted and 

the constitution of the'United States, their unalter- siiiriring (icvelomuent of mnVriil latlon i Us declared as a platform of principles by the Demo- 

able attachment to the National Union, and a fixed rapidimmie^ US "atic convention at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, 

determination to do all in their nnn-sr i„ and its honor aliioad • and u-id 1S St hl "“ 1 9 fichevmg that democratic principles are unchange- 

ive themes 7,'r disunion •fl ? “'J l horrenc,: a11 ? 1,Ie in f'cir nature when applied to the same sdb- 

I n ° UeWpriUCilJk3 W «*» new platform to J they may; and weeuDgraiutatethO 


Democratic party as tn the nature and extent, of tl 
powers of a territorial legislature, and as to the 
ers and duties of Congress, under tlie constitution > 
the United States, over the institution ol slaw., 0 .' 
within tlie territories: ver 7 

2. Resolved, That the Democratic party will nhhl 
by tiie decisions of tho Supreme Court of the Unit! t 
States on the questions of constitutional law * CU 

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of the Unitml 
States to afford ample and complete ptoteclinn to a 
its citizens, whether at home or abroad, aud whetliJr 
native or foreign. 

4. Resolved, That one of tlie necessities of ft, fi 
age, in a military, commercial, and postal point ! 
view, is speedy communication between tho Atlantic 
and Pacific states; aud tho Democratic party pledge 
such constitutional government aid as will insure 
t he construction of a railroad to tho Pacific coast at 
tlie earliest, practicable period 

5. Resolved, That tlie Democratic party are in 
favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba on 
such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves anl 
just to Spain. 

6. Resolved, Tliat tlie enactments of state legisla¬ 
tures to defeat tlie faithful execution of the Fugitive 
Slave Law are hostile in character,subversive of the 
constitution, and revolutionary In their effect. 

7. Resolved, That it is in accordance with thotrue 
interpretation of the Cincinnati platform, that du¬ 
ring the existence of tlie territorial governments" 
the measure of restriction, whatever it may be im¬ 
posed liy the federal- constitution on tlie "power of 
tlie territorial legislature over tlie subject of domes¬ 
tic relations, as Die same has been, cr shall liereafier 
be, finally determined by the Supreme Court of the 
United States, shall be respeete i by all good citizens 
and enforced with promptness ami fidelity by every 
branch of the general government. 


I860. 

DEMOCRATIC (BRECKINRIDGE) PLATFORM 
CHARLESTON AND BALTIMORE. ’ 

Resolved, That tlie platform adopted by the Demo¬ 
cratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed, with the fol¬ 
lowing explanatory resolutions: 

1. That the government of a territory, organized 
by an act of Congress, is provisional aud temporary; 
and, during its existence, all cilizens of the United 
States have an equal right to settle, with their prop, 
erty, in the b-rritory, without their rights, either of 
person or property, being destroyed or impaired by 
congressional or territorial legislation. 

2. That it is the duty of the Federal government, 
in all i'S departments, to protect, when necessary, 
the rights of persons and property in the territories, 
and wherever else its constitutional authority ex¬ 
tends. 

8. Tlmt when the settlers in a territory having 
an adequate population 1 rinastateeonstituli.il in 
pursuance of law, tlie right of sovereignly com¬ 
mences, and, being consummated by admission into 
the Uni m, they stand on aa equal footing with the 
people of oilier states, and tiie state thus organized 
ought to lie admitted into tlie Federal Union, 
whether 1‘s constitution prohibits or recognizes the 
institution of slavery. 

4. That the Democratic party are in favor of the 
acquisition of the island of Cuba, on such terms as 
shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain, at 
the earliest practicable moment. 

5. That the enactments of state legislatures to 
defeat tlie faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave 
Law are hostile in character, subversive of the cou- 
slitu.ion, and revolutionary in their effect. 

6. That the Democracy of tho United States 
recognize it as the imperative duty of this govern¬ 
ment to protect the naturalized citizen, in all his 
rights, wlieLher at home or in foreign lands, to tlie 
same extent ns its nalive-boru citizens. 

1 VUereas, One of tlie greatest necessities of the age, 
in a political, commercial, postal, and military point 
of view, is a speedy communication between the 1'a- 
eific and Atlantic coast.; Therefore, be it 

Resolved, 'J hat the* Democratic party do hereby 
pledge themselves to use every means in their power 
to secure tlie passage of some b 11, to the extent of 
the constitutional authority of Congress, for tlie 
construction of a Pacific railroad from the Missis¬ 
sippi river to I he Pacific ocean, at tlie earliest prac¬ 
ticable moment. 


lited 



1864. 

RADICAL PLATFORM, CLEVELAND, MAY 

81st. 

1. Tliat the Federal Union shall be preserved. 

2. That tlie constitution and laws of the Uuit 
dates must be observed awd obeyed. 

3. That tlie Rebellion must bo suppressed by 
force of arms, and without compromise. 

4. Tliat the rights of free speech, free press, and 
he habeas corpus be held inviolate, save in districts 
where martial law lias been proclaimed. 

5. 'Unit llie Rebellion has destroyed slavery; and 
the federal constitution should be so amended as to 
prohibit i'S re-establishment and to secure to all 
uieu absolute equality before tho law. 

6. That integrity and economy are demanded, at 
all times, in Die administration of the government, 
and tliat in time of war the want of them is criminal. 

7. ~.. 

and sul>; 

American jj.ch, , %.j.--- 

uut be overl iolte4, and must not go unrebuked. 

8. That l he national policy known as the “ Mon¬ 
roe Doctrine” has become a recognized principle; 
and tliat tiie establishment of an anti-republican 
government on t his continent by any foreign power 
cannot lie tolerated. 

9. Tliat the gratitude and support of the nation 
are due to the faithful soldiers and Dio earnest lead¬ 
ers of the Union army ai.d navy, for tluir heroic 
achievements and deathless valor in defence of our 
imperiled country aud of civil liberty. 

10. That tlie one term policy for tlie presidency, 

adopted by tiie people, is strengthened by the force 
of tiie existing crisis, and should bo maintained by 
constiturional amendment. , 

11. That tiie constitution should bo so amended 

lhat the President and Vicc-Pn sidciit shall be elect¬ 
ed by a direct vote of the people. _ 

12. That the question of Dio reconstruction of the 
rebellious stales In longs to tlie people, through their 
represontalivi s in Congress, and not to the Executive. 

]:i. That the confiscation of tho lands of the reb¬ 
els, and their distribution among the soldiers and 
net onl settlors, is a measure of iustice. 


17 























1864 . 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, 

Tliat it 19 the highest duty of every 
. African citizen to maintain, against all their ene- 
• - *h« int«" r ritv of the Union ami the paramount 
iii.’iriiv of tlie constitution ami laws of the United 
'slates- ami that, laying aside all differences of pm 
n ieal opinions, we pledge ourselves, as Union men, 
animated hv a common sentiment and aiming at a 
common object, to do everything in our power to 
«td the government in quelling, liy force of arms, 
the rebellion now racing against its authority, and 
in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes 
ihe rebels ami traitors arrayed against it. 

Resolved That we approve the determination of 
the government of theUuiled States not to compro¬ 
mise with rebels, nor to otter them any terms of 
neare except such as may he based upou an “ un¬ 
conditional surrender” of their hostility and a re- 
mru to their just allegiance to the constitution and 
] iws of the United States; and that we call upon 
the government to maintain this position, and to 
prosecute the war with the utmost possible vigor to 
'lie complete suppression of the Rebellion, in full 
r.liance upon the self-sacrificing patriolism, the 
heroic valor, and the undying devotion of the Amer¬ 
ican people to the country ami its free institutions. 

Resolved, That, as slavery was the cause, and now 
constitutes the strength, of this Rebellion, and as it 
must be always and everywhere hostile to the prin¬ 
ciples of republican government, justice and the 
national safety demand its utter and complete extir¬ 
pation from the soil of the Republic; and that we 
uphold and maintain the acts and proclamations by 
which the government, in its own defence, has 
aimed a death-blow at this gigantic evil. We are in 
favor, furthermore, of such au amendment to the 
constitution, to be made by the people iu conformity 
with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever 
prohibit tire existence of slavery within the limits 
or the jurisdiction of the United States. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the American people 
are due to the soldiers aud sailors of the army and 
navy, who have periled their lives in defence of 
their country and in vindication of the honor of its 
flag; that the nation owes to them some permanent 
recognition of their patriotism and their valor, and 
ample and permanent provision for those of their 
survivors who have received disabling and honorable 
wounds in the service of the country; and that the 
memories of those who have fallen in its defenco 
shall be held in grateful and everlasting remem¬ 
brance. 

Resolved, That we approve and applaud the prac¬ 
tical wisdom, the unselfish patriotism, and the 
unswerving fidelity to the constitution and the 
principles of American liberty with which Abraham 
Lincoln has discharged, under circumstances of 
unparalleled difficulty, theg-cat duties and respons¬ 
ibilities of the presidential ottice ; that we approve 
and indorse, as demanded by the emergency and 
essential to the preservation of the nation, and as 
within the provisiuusof the constitution, the meas¬ 
ures and acts which he has adopted to defend the 
nation against its open and secret foes; that we 
approve, especially, the Prnclamui inn of Emancipa¬ 
tion, and the emploi ment, as Union soldiers, of 
men heretofore held in shivery; and that we have 
lull confidence in liis determination to carry these, 
and all oilier constitutional measures essential to the 
sdvmion of the country, into full and complete 

eil et. 

Resolved, That we deem it essential to the general 
wi Itare that harmony should prevail iu the national 
councils, and we regard as worthy of public confi¬ 
dence and official trust those only who cordially 
indorse the principles proclaimed in thpse resolu¬ 
tions, and which should characterize the adminis¬ 
tration of tha government. 

Resolved, That the government owes to all men 
employed in its armies, without regard to distinction 
of color, the full protection of the laws of war; and 
tliatmny violation of those laws, or of the usages of 
civilized nations in the time of war, by the rebels 
now in arms, should be made the subject of prompt 
and full redress. 

Resolved, That foreign immigration, which in the 
past has added so much to tlie wealth, development 
of resources, and increase of power to this liaiiou— 
the asylum of the oppressed of all nations—should 
be fostered aud encouraged by a liberal and just 
policy. 

Resolved, That we are in favor of the speedy con¬ 
struction of tlie railroad to the Pacific coast. 

Resolved, That tlie national faith, pledged for the 
redemption of the public debt, must be kept invio¬ 
late; and that, for this purpose, we recommend 
economy and rigid responsibility in the public 
expenditures and a vigorous and j ust system of tax¬ 
ation; aud that it is the duty of every loyal state 
to sustain the credit aud promote the use of the 
national currency. 

Resolved, That we approve the position taken by 
the government, that tlie people of the United States 
can never regard with indifference the attempt of 
any European power to overthrow by force, or to 
supplant by fraud, the institutions of any republican 
government on the western continent, and that they 
will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to the 
peace and independence of this, our country, the 
efforts of any such power to obtain new footholds 
for monarchical governments, sustained by a foreign 
military force, iu near proximity to the United 
States. 


vend ion of°!m Urn’ R A' th a VU ,7 to an '-Himato con- 
to lee 1 ■ t ' S ’ °? t ot ‘ ,cr peaceable means, 

ne-ice nr v K, ,h ® earHest practicable moment 
union of ,fll 1 he stams tUe basis of tho **leral 

Resolved, That the direct interference of the mili¬ 
tary authority „f ,i m u n i te( j States in the recent 

Defaware^wns a jY l| * tu< ; k y > Mary kind, Missmirh'and 
1 (Jauarr, v as a shameful violation of the constitu- 

tion , a lid 1 lie repetition of such acts in the approach- 
mg elect'onwiU be held as revolution""- and 
control! th “ U 119 means and P° wer under our 

That 1hft aim and object of the Demo- 
H i f l ,K f rt .'\' 13 P res, ' rv e the Federal Union and the 
T, 1 “estates unimpaired; and they hereby 
declare that they consider tlie administrative usur¬ 
pation °f extraordinary and dangerous powers not 
gianted by the constitution, the subversion of the 
civil by military law in slates not in insurrection, 
the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial, 
a ! 1( * 1 E 1 entenc ? of American citizens in states where 
civil Jiiw exists in full force, the suppression of free- 
dom of speech and of the press, the denial of the 
right of asylum, the open and avow-cd disregard of 
state rights, the employment of unusual tesl-oaths, 
and the interference with and denial of the right of 
tlie people to bear arms in their defence, as calcu¬ 
lated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the 
perpetuation of a government deriving its just pow¬ 
ers from the consent of tlie governed. 

Resolved, That tlie shameful disregard of the 
administration to its duty in respect to our fellow- 
citizens who now are, and long have been, prisoners 
of war, in a puttering condition, deserves the severest 
reprobation, on the score alike of public policy and 
common humanity. 

Resolved, That the sympathy of the Democratic 
party is heartily and earnestly extended to the 
soldiery of our army and the sailors of our navy, 
w ho are and have been in the field and on the sea 
under the flag of their country; and, in the event of 
our attaining power, they will receive all the care 
and protection, regard and kindness, that tlie brave 
soldiers of the Republic have so nobly earned. 


1864 . 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, CHICAGO, 
AUGUST 29th. 

Resolved, That in the future, as in the past, we 
will adhere with unswerving fidelity to the Union 
under the constitution, as tlie only solid foundation 
of our strength, security, and happiness as a people, 
and as a frame-work of government equally condu¬ 
cive to the welfare and prosperity of all the states, 
boih northern and southern. 

Resolved, That this convention does explicitly 
declare, as the sense of the American people, that 
after four years of lailure to restore the Union by 
the experiment of war, during which, under the pro¬ 
tense of a military necessity of a war power higher 
than the constitution, the constitution itself has 
been disregarded in every part, and public liberty 
and private right alike trodden down, anil the mate¬ 
rial prosperity of the country essentially impaired, 
justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare 
demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessa- 
19 


1868 . 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, CHICAGO, 
MAY 20th. 

1. We congratulate the country on the assured 
success of the reconstruction policy of Congress, as 
evidenced by the adoption, in tlie majority of the 
states lately in rebellion, of constitutions securing 
equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the 
duly of the government to sustain those institutions 
and to prevent tlie people of such stales fiom being 
remitted to a state of anarchy. 

2. The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage to 
all loyal men at the south was demanded by every 
consideration of public safety, of gratitude, and of 
juslic", aud must be maintained ; while t lie q nest ion 
of sulfrage iu all tlie loyal states properly belongs to 
the people of those states. 

3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a 
national crime; and the national honor requires the 
pay ment of the public indebtedness in the uttermost 
good f -ith to all creditors at home and abroad, not 
only according to tlie letter but the spirit oi the laws 
under which it was contracted. 

4. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxa¬ 
tion should be equalized and reduced us rapidly as 
the national faith will permit. 

5. The national debt, contracted as 5t. has been for 
the preservation of the Union for all time to come, 
should be extended ox-er a fair period for redemp¬ 
tion; and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the 
rate of interest thereou whenever it can be honestly 
done. 

6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of 
debt is io so improve our credit that capitalists will 
seek to loan us money at lower rati s of interest than 
we now pay, and must coininue to pay, so long as 
repudiation, partial or total, open or covert, is 
threatened or suspected. 

7. The government of the United States should 
be administered with the strictest economy ; and the 
corruptions which have been so shamefully nursed 
and fostered by Andrew Johnson call loudly for 
radical reform. 

8. We profoundly deplore the tragic death of 
Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession to the 
presidency of Andiew Johnson, who has acted 
treacherously to the people who elected him and the 
cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped 
high legislative and judicial functions; who has 
refused to execute the laws; who has used his high 
ottice to induce other officers to ignore and violate 
the laws; who has employed his executive powers 
to render insecure the property, the peace, liberty, 
and life of tlie citizen; who has abused the pardon¬ 
ing power; who has denounced the national legisla¬ 
ture as unconstitutional; who has persistently and 
corruptly resisted, by every means in his power, 
every proper attempt a-t ths reconstruction of the 
states lately in rebellion ; who has perverted the pub¬ 
lic patronage inte an engine of wholesale corruption; 
and who has been justly impeached for high crimes 
and misdemeanors, aud properly pronounced guilty 
thereof by the vote of thirty-five Senators. 

9. The doctrine of Great Britain aud other Euro¬ 
pean powers, that because a man is once a subject 
he is always so, must be resisted at every hazard by 
the United States, as a relic of feudal times, not au- 
thorized by the laws of nations, and at war with our 
national honor and independence. Naturalized citi¬ 
zens are entitled to protection in all t heir rights of 
citizenship as though they were native-born; and no 
citizen of the United States, native or naturalized, 
must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by any 
“reign power for acts done or words spoken in this 
country? aud, if so arrested and imprisoned, it is the 
duty of the government to interfere in his behalf. 

J of all who were faithful in the trials of the 
late waV, there were none entitled to more especial 
' r than the brave Soldiers and seamen who en¬ 
ured tlie hardships of campaign and cruise, and 

periled their lives in the service of the country. 
The bounties and pensions provided by the laxvs for 
these brave defenders of the naiwn are obligations 
never to be forgotten; tlie widows and orphans o 
the gallant dead are thewardsot the people—a sacred 
caacy bequeathed to the nation’s protecting care 

H Foreign immigration, which in the past has 
added so much to the wealth, development, and re- 
aciara so i reaseo f power to tins Republic, the 

sources, a oppressed of all nations,should be fos- 

saafsasw *»>«•> — j- 


12. This convention declares Itself in sympathy 

with all oppressed people who aro struggling for 
their rights. b b 

13. 1 bat wo highly commend the spirit of mag¬ 
nanimity and forbearance with which men who 
have served in the Rebellion, but who now frankly 
md honestly co-operate with us in restoring the 
peace of tlie country and reconstructing the south- 
tu state governments upou the basis of impartial 
just ce ana equal rights, are received back into the 
communion of the loyal people; and xve favor the 
removal of tho disqualifications and restrictions im¬ 
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as 
the spirit of disloyalty shall die out, and as may be 
consistent with the safety of the loyal people. 

14. That we recognize the great principles laid 
down in the immortal Declaration of Independence, 
as I lie true foundation of democratic government; 
and we lmil with gladness every effort toward mak¬ 
ing these principles a living reality on every inch of 
American soil. 


1868 . 


DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, NEW YORK, 
JULY 4th. 

The Democratic party. In national convention 
assembled, reposing its trust in tlie intelligence, 
patriotism, and discriminating justice of the people, 
standing upon tlie constitution as the foundation 
and limitation of tlie powers of tlie government and 
the guarantee of the liberties of the citizen, and 
recognizing the questions of slavery and secession as 
having been settled, for all time to come, by the 
war or the voluntary action of the southern statas in 
constitutional conventions assembled, and never to 
be revived or re-agitated, do, with the return of 
peace, demand— 

1. Immediate restoration of all the states to their 
rights in the Union under the constitution, and of 
civil government to the American people. 

2. Amnesty for all past political offences, and the 
regulation of the elective franchise iu the states by 
their citizens. 

3. Payment of the public debt of the United 
States as rapidly as practicable—all moneys drawn 
from the people by taxation, except so much as is 
requisite for the necessities of the government, 
economically administered, being honestly applied 
to such payment; and where the obligations of the 
government do not expressly shite upon their face, 
or the law under which they were issued docs not 
provide that they shall be paid in coin, they ought, 
in right and in justice, to be paid in the lawful 
money of the United States. 

4. Equal taxation of every species of property 
according to its real value, including government 
bonds and other public securities. 

6. One currency for the government and the 
people, the laborer and the office-holder, the pen¬ 
sioner and the soldier, the producer aud the bond¬ 
holder. 

6. Economy in the administration of the govern¬ 
ment; the reduction of the standing army and navy; 
the abolition of the Freedmen’s Bureau and all 
political instrumentalities designed to secure negro 
supremacy; simplification of the system and discon¬ 
tinuance of inquisitorial modes of assessing and 
collecting internal revenue; that tho burden of tax¬ 
ation may be equalized aud lessened, and the credit 
of the government and the currency made good; 
the repeal of all enactments for enrolling the state 
militia into national forces in time of peace; and a 
tariff for revenue upon foreign imports, and such 
equal taxation under the internal revenue laws as 
will afford incidental protection to domestic manu¬ 
factures, and as will, without impairing the revenue, 
impose the least burden upon, and best promote and 
encourage, the great industrial iutercsts of the 
couutry. 

7. Reform of abuses in the administration; the 
expulsion of corrupt men from office; the abrogation 
of useless offices; the restoration of rightful author¬ 
ity to, and the independence of, the executive and 
judicial departments of the government.; the subor¬ 
dination of the military to the civil power, to the 
end that tho usurpations of Congress aud the despot¬ 
ism of the sword may cease. 

8. Equal rights and protection for naturalized 
and native-born citizens, at home and abroad; the 
assertion of American nationality which shall com¬ 
mand the respect of foreign powers, and furnish au 
example and encouragement to people struggling 
for national integrity, constitutional liberty, and 
individual rights; and the maintenance of the 
rights of naturalized citizens against the absolute 
doctrine of immutable allegiance and the claims of 
foreign powers to punish them for alleged crimes 
committed beyond their jurisdiction. In demand¬ 
ing these measures aud reforms, we arraign the 
Radical party for its disregard of right and the 
unparalleled oppression and tyranny which have 
marked its career. After the most solemn aud 
unanimous pledge of both Houses of Congress to 
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance 
of the government and the preservation of the 
Union under the constitution, it has repeatedly 
violated that most sacred pledge under which alone 
was rallii d that noble volunteer army which carried 
our flag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union, 
it lias, so far as in its power, dissolved it, and 
subjected ten states, in time of profound peace, to 
military d spotisui and negro supremacy. It has 
nullified there the right of trial by jury; it has 
abolished the habeas corpus, that most sticied writ of 
liberty; it has overthrown the freedom of speech 
and press; it lias substituted arbitrary seizures and 
arrests, and military trials aud secret star chamber 
inquisitions, for the constitutional tribunals; it has 
disregarded, in time of peace, the right of the people 
to be free from searches and seizures; it has entered 
the post and telegraph offices, and even the private 
rooms of individuals, and seized their private papers 
and letters, without auy specific charge or notice of 
affidavit, as required by the organic law. It has 
converted the American Capitol into a bastile; it 
has established, a system of spies and official esp : on- 
age to which no constitutional monarchy of Europe 
would now dare to resort. It has abolished the 
right of appeal, on important constitutional ques¬ 
tions, to tho supreme judicial tribunals, and threat¬ 
ens to curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction, 
which is irrevocably vested by the constitution; 
while the learned Chief Justice has been subjected 
to the most atrocious calumnies, merely because ha 
would not prostitute his high ottice to the support of 
the false aud partisan charges preferred against the 
President. Its corruption and extravagancy have 

21 


exceeded anything known in history; and, by its 
frauds and monopolies, it lias nearly doubled the 
burden of the debt created hy tile war. It has 
stripped tho President of his constit utional power of 
appointment, even of his own cabinet. Under its 
repeated assaults, the pillars of the government are 
rocking on their base: and should it succeed in 
November next, aud inaugurate its President, we 
will meet, as a subjected anil conquered people, 
amid the ruins of lib Tty aud the scattered frag¬ 
ments of the constitution. 

And we do declare and resolve that ever since the 
people of the United States threw off all subjection 
to the British crown, tlie privilege arid trust ot suf¬ 
frage have belonged to the several suites, and have 
been granted, regulated, and controlled exclusively 
by the political power of each state respectively; and 
that any attempt by Congress, on any pretext what¬ 
ever, to deprive any state of this right, or interfere 
with its exercise, is a flagrant usurpation of power 
which can find no warrant in the constitution, and, 
if sanctioned by the people, will subvert our form of 
government, and can only end in a single, central¬ 
ized, and consolidated government, iu which the 
separate existence of the states will be entirety ab¬ 
sorbed, and an unqualified despotism be established 
in place of a federal union of co-equal states. And 
that w e regard tlie construction acts (so called) of 
Congress as usurpations and unconstitutional, revo¬ 
lutionary and void. 

That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the flag 
of our country to victory against a most gallant, and 
determined foe, must ever be gratefully remembered, 
and all the guarantees given in their favor must be 
faithfully carried into execution. 

That the public lands should be distributed as 
widely as possitile among the people, and should be 
disposed of either under the pre-emption of h"ine- 
stead lands or sold iu reasonable quantities, and to 
none but actual occupants, at the minimum price 
established by the government. Wneu grants of 
public lands may be allowed, necessary for the en¬ 
couragement of important public improvements, the 
proceeds of the sale of such lands, aud not the Liuds 
themselves, should be so applied. 

That the President of the United States, Andrew 
Johnson, in exercising the power of his high ottice 
in resisting the aggressions of Congress upon the 
constitutional rights of tlie states and the people, 
is entitled to the gratitude of the whole American 
people; and, on behalf of the Democratic party, xve 
tender him our thanks for his patriotic efforts in 
that regard. 

Upon this platform, the Democratic party appeal 
to every patriot, including all the conservative ele¬ 
ment and all xvlio desire to support the constitution 
and restore tlie Union, forgetting all past differences 
of opinion, to unite with us in the present great 
struggle forthe liberties of the people; and that to 
all such, to xvhatever party they nmy have hereto¬ 
fore belonged, we extent the light hand of fellow¬ 
ship, and hail all such, co-operating with us, as 
friends and brethren. 

Resolved, That this convention sympathizes cordi¬ 
ally xvith the workingmen of the United States in 
their efforts to protect tlie rights and interests of the 
laboring classes of the country. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the convention are 
tendered to Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, for the 
justice, dignity, and impartiality with which he pre¬ 
sided over the court of impeachment on the trial of 
President Andrexv Johnson. 


1872 . 

LABOR REFORM PLATFORM, COLUMBUS, 
FEBRUARY 21st. 

We hold that all political poxver is inherent in the 
people, and free government founded on their au¬ 
thority and established for their benefit; that all 
citizens are equal in political rights, entitled to the 
largest religious and political liberty compatible 
with the good order of society, as also the use and 
enjoyment of the fruits of their labor aud talents; 
and iio man or set of men is entitled to exclusive 
separable endowments and privileges or immunities 
from the government, but in consideration of public 
services; and any laws destructive of these funda- 
meutal principles are xvitliout moral binding force, 
and should be repealed. And believing that all the 
evils resulting from unjust legislation now affecting 
the industrial classes can be removed by the adop¬ 
tion of the principles contained in the following 
declaration: Therefore, 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the government to 
establish a just standard of distribution of capital 
and labor, by providing a purely national circulating 
medium, based on tlie faith and resources of the 
nation, issued directly to tlie people without the 
intervention of any system of banking corporations, 
which money shall be legal tender iu the payment 
of all debts, public and private, and interchangeable, 
at tlie opiion of the holder, for government bonds 
bearing a rate of interest not to exceed 3-65 per 
cent., subject to future legislation by Congress. 

2. That the national debt should be paid in good 
iaith, according to the original contract, at tho 
earliest option of the government, without mortgag¬ 
ing the property of the people or the future exigen¬ 
cies of labor to enrich a iexv capitalists at home and 
abroad. 

3. That justice demands that the burdens of gov¬ 
ernment should be so adjusted as to bear equally on 
all classes, and that the exemption from taxation of 
government bonds bearing extravagant rates of in¬ 
terest, is a violation of all just principles of revenue 
laxvs. 

4. That the public lands of the United States 
belong to the people, and should not be sold to indi¬ 
viduals nor granted to corporations, but should be 
held as a sacred trust for tlie benefit of the people, 
and should bo granted to landless settlers only, in 
amounts not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres 
of laud. 

5. That Congress should modify the tariff so as to 
admit free such articles of common use as we can 
neither produce nor grow, and lay duties for revenue 
mainly upon articles of luxury and upon such arti¬ 
cles of manufacture as will, we having the raxv 
materials, assist iu further developing the resources 
of the country. 

6. That the presence in our country of Chinese 
laborers, imported by capitalists in large numbers 
for servile use, is an evil entailing want and its 
attendant train of misery and crime on all classes of 
the American people, and should be prohibited by 
legislation. 

22 


7. That we ask for the enactment of a law by 
which all mechanics and day-laborers employed by 
or on behalf of the government, whether directly or 
indirectly, through persons, firms, or corporations, 
contracting with the state, shall conform to the 
reduced standard of eight hours a day, recently 
adopted liy Gmgress for national employes; and also 
|for an amendment to the acts of Incorporation for 
[ cities and towns, by which all laborers and mechan¬ 
ics employed at their expense shall conform to the 
Isame number oi hours. 

8. That the enlightened spirit of the age demands 
j the abolition of the system of contract labor in our 
i prisons and other reformatory institutions. 

9. That the protection of life, liberty, and prop- 
| ertv are the three cardinal principles of government, 
ana the first txvo are more sacred than the latter; 
therefore, money needed for prosecuting wars 

I should, as it is required, be assessed and collected 
from tlio wealthy of tlie country, aud not entailed 
as a burden on posterity. 

10. That it is the duty of the government to 
exorcise its power over railroads and telegraph cor¬ 
porations, that they shall not in any case be privi¬ 
leged to exact such rates of freight, transportation 
or charges, by whatever name, as may bear unduly 
or unequally upon the producer or consumer. 

11. That there should be such a reform in the 
civil service of the national government as will 
remove it beyond all partisan influence, and place it 
in tlie charge and under the direction of intelligent 
and competent business men. 

12. That as both history and experience teaches 
us that power ever seeks to perpetuate itselt by 
every and all means, and that its prolonged posses¬ 
sion in the hands of one person is always dangerous 
to the interests of a free pe pie, and believing that 
the spirit of our organic laxvs and the stability and 
safety of our free institutions are best obeyed on the 
one hand, and secured on the other, by a regular 
constitutional change in the chief of the country at 
each election ; theiefore, we are in favor of limiting 
the occupancy of the presidential chair to one term. 

13. That we are in favor of granting general 
amnesty and restoring the Union at once on the basis 
of equality of rights and privileges to all, the impar¬ 
tial administration of justice being the only true 
bond of union to bind the states together and restore 
the government of the people. 

14. That we demand the subjection of the military 
to the civil authorities, and the confinement of its 
operations to national purposes alone. 

15. That we deem it expedient for Congress to 
supervise the patent laws so as to give labor more 
lolly the benefit of its owt ideas and inveutions. 

16. That fitness, and not political or personal con¬ 
siderations, should be the only recommendation to 
public ottice, either appointive or elective; and any 
and all laws looking to the establishment of this 
principle are heartily approved. 


1872 . 

PROHIBITION PLATFORM, COLUMBUS, OHIO, 
FEBRUARY 22<L 

The preamble recites that protection and allegi¬ 
ance are reciprocal duties; and every citizen who 
yields obediently to the full commands of govern¬ 
ment should be protected in all enjoyment of per¬ 
sonal security, personal liberty, and private prop¬ 
erty. That the traffic in intoxicating drinks greatly 
impairs the personal security and personal liberty (if 
a great mass of citizens and renders private property 
insecure. That all political parties are hopelessly 
unwilling to adopt an adequate policy on this ques¬ 
tion : Therefore, as a national convention, we adopt 
the following declaration of principles: 

That while we acknowledge the pure patriotism 
and profound statesmanship of those patriots who 
laid the foundation of this government, securing at 
once the rights of the states severally and their 
inseparable union by the federal constitution, we 
would not merely garnish the sepulchres of our re¬ 
publican fathers, but we do hereby renew our pledges 
j of solemn fealty to the imperishable principles of 
| civil and religious liberty embodied in the Declara¬ 
tion of Independence and our federal constitution. 

That the traffic iu intoxicating beverages is a dis¬ 
honor to Christian cix-ilization, a political wrong of 
uuequalcd enormity, subversive of oidinary objects 
of government, no! capable of being regulated or 
l restrained by any system of license whatever, and 
ini|ieraiively demands, for its suppression, effective 
legal prohibition, both by state and national legisla- 
! tion. 

That there can be no greater peril to a nation 
Ulau existing party competition for tlie liquor vote. 
That auy party not opposed to the traffic, experi¬ 
ence slioxx-s xx ill engage in this competition— will 
court the favor of criminal classes—xvili barter away 
the public morals, tlie purity of the ballot, and 
every object of good government, for party success. 

That, as prohibitionists, we will individually use 
all efforts to persuade men from the use ot intoxi¬ 
cating liquors; and xve invite all persons to assist in 
this movement. 

That competence, honesty, and sobriety are indis¬ 
pensable qualifications for bolding office. 

That removals from public office for mere political 
differences of opinion are wrong. 

That fixed and moderate salaries of public officers 
should take the places of fees and perquisites; ami 
that all means should be taken to prevent corruption 
and encourage economy. 

That the President and Vice-President should be 
elected directly by tlie people. 

That xx-e are in favor of a sound national currency, 
adequate to the demandsof business, and convertible 
into gold and silver at the will of tlie holder, and 
the adoption of every measure compatible with jus¬ 
tice and public safety to appreciate our present cur¬ 
rency to the gold standard. 

That the rates of ocean ami inland postage, and 
railroad and telegraph lines and water transporta¬ 
tion, should be made as loxv as possible by laxv. 

That xve are opposed to all discrimination in favor 
of capital against labor, as well as ail monopoly and 
class legislation. 

That tlie removal of the burdens imposed in the 
traffic in intoxicating drinks xvili emancipate labor 
and xvili practically promote hi nr reform. 

Uiat suffrage should be granted to all persons 
without regard to sex. ’ 

That the fostering and extension of common schools 
is a primary duty of tlie government. 

1 1 rat a liberal policy should be pursued to promote 
foru gu immigration. 

23 



















1872. 

LIBERAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, CINCIN¬ 
NATI, MAY 1st. 

We, the Liberal Republicans of the United States, 
in national convention assembled at Cincinnati, pro¬ 
claim the following principles as essential to just 
government: , . 

1. We recognize the equalit y of all men before the 
law, and hold that it is the duty of government, in 
its dealings with the people, to mote out equal and 
exact justice to all, of whatever nativity, race, color, 

or persuasion religious or political. 

2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the union of 
these states, emancipation, and enfranchisement, 
and to oppose any re-opening of the questions settled 
by the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amend¬ 
ments of the constitution. 

3. We demand the immediate and absolute re¬ 
moval of all disabilities imposed on account of the 
Rebellion, which was finally subdued seven years 
ago, believing that universal amnesty will result in 
complete pacification in all sections of the country. 

4. Local self-government, with impartial suffrage, 
will guard the rights of all citizens more securely 
than any centralized power. The public welfare 
requires the supremacy of the civil over the military 
authority, and the freedom of person under the pro¬ 
tection of the halieas corpus . We demand for the 
individual the largest liberty consistent with public 
order, for the state self-government, and for the na¬ 
tion a return to the methods of peace and the con¬ 
stitutional limitations of power. 

5. The civil service of the government has become 
a mere instrument of partisan tyranny and personal 
ambition, and an object of selfish greed. It is a 
scandal and reproach upon free institutions, and 

breeds a demoralization dangerous to the perpetuity > ncn*i 0 im 

of republican government. We, therefore, regard a r.Jram’ 


ress, and fidelity to our constitutional system is tho 
only protection for either: Therefore, 

Resolved, That tho original basis of our whole polit¬ 
ical structure is consent in every part thereof. 1 no 
people of each state voluntarily created their state, 
and the states voluntarily formed the Union; and 
each state provided by its wiitten constitution for 
everything a state could do for tho protection ot hfe, 
liberty 


. and propelty within it; and each state, 

jointly with the oilr'rs, provided a federal union 
tor foreign and inter state relations. 

Resolved, That all governmental powers, whether 
state or federal, are trust powers coming from the 
people of each stale, and that they are limited to the 
itten letterof theeonstitution and the laws passed 


world. This glorious record of the past is the 
party’s best pledge for the future. We believe the 
people will not intrust the government to any party 
or combination of men composed chiefly of those 
who have resisted every step of this beneficent pro¬ 
gress. , . . 

2. The recent amendments to the national con¬ 
stitution should be cordially sustained because they 
are right, not merely tolerated because they are law, 
and should be carried out according to their spirit 
by appropriate legislation, the enforcement of which 
can safely be intrusted only to tho party that se¬ 
cured those amendments. 

3. Complete liberty and exact equality in the en- 

throughout the Union bv efficient and appropriate in the utmost good f.ulh, tho 
state and federal legislaiion. v - i,w w "" r «'<■ 


... _ Neither the law nor 

its administration should admit any discrimination 
in respect to citizens by reason of race, creed, color, 

or previous condition of servitude. 

4. The national government should seek to 
maintain honorable peace with all nations,.protect¬ 
ing its citizens everywhere, and sympathizing with 
all peoples who strive for greater liberty. 

5. Any system of civil service under which the 
subordinate positions of the government arc consid¬ 
ered rewards for mere party zeal is fatally demoral¬ 
izing: and we, therefore, favor a reform of the 
system, by laws which shall abolish the evils of pat* 


faith, the .. 

stating in what "manner they may be altered and 

amended. ... i 

Jicsolirrfy That the interests of labor and capital 
should not he permitted to conflict, but should be 
harmonized by judicious legislation. While such a 
conflict continues, labor, which is the parent ol 
wealth, is entitled to paramount consideration. 

Ji'csolvrd , That wo proclaim to the world that prin¬ 
ciple is to be preferred to power; that the Demo¬ 
cratic party is held together by the cohesion of 
time-honored principles, which they will never sur- 
r. ndcr in exchange for all the offices which Presi¬ 
dents can confer. The pangs of the minorities are 
’ welcome an eternal 


ronage, and make honesty, efficiency, and fidelity doubtless excruciating;.but * e . 

^ - - - - .f or public positions, j minority, under the banner inscribed \uin our 


thorough reform of the civil service as one of the 
most pressing necessities of the hour; that honesty, 
capacity, and fidelity constitute the only valid 
claims to public employment; that the offices of the 
government cease to be a matter of arbitrary favor¬ 
itism and patronage, and that public station shall 
become again a post of honor. To this end, it is 
imperatively required that no President shall be a 
candidate for re-election. 

G. We demand a system of federal taxation which 


thp pcepntial Qualifications lor niunic pumuuus, 1 iiuuuiuy, ~.. -y 

without practically creating a life tenure of office. : principles, rather than an almighty and everlasting 

6 We are opposed to further grants of the public majority, purchased by their abamlonme it 

lands to corporations and monopolies, and demand j Resolved, That, haying been betrayul at Baltimore 
that, the national domain beset apart for free homes into a false creed and a fa so t o tl e people 

for the neonle volition, we repudiate both, and appeal to the people 

7 The annual revenue, after paving current ex- to approve our platform, and to r-ally lo the polls and 

7. me annual on the public support tho true platform and tlm candidates who 

debt, should furnish a moderate balance for there- embody it. 


duction of the principal; and that revenue, except 
Iso much as may be derived from a tax upon tobacco 
land liquors, should be raised by duties upon im¬ 
portations, the details of which should be so | 
I adjusted as to aid iu securing remunerative wages to 
labor, and promote the industries, prosperity, and | 
growth of the whole coumry. 

I 8. We hold iu undying honor the soldiers and | 
sailors whose valor saved the Union. Their pensions 

shall not unnecessarily interfere with I'm industry “}.ppa^ oYumse who dieiVfor’uleir countryatecn- 
of the people, and which shall provide the me. s l0 (he care of a generous and grateful people, 

necessary to pay the expenses of thei government, We faTor SU( . h JU Uitional legislation us will extend 
economically administered, the pensions, the interest tl|g lK)ulltv o{ the govoriiine»t to all our soldiers and 
on the public debt, and a moderate reduction anna- sailnrs were honorably discharged, and who in 
ally of the principal thereof ; and recognizing that ^ , ineof duty became disabled, without regard to 
there are in our midst honest hut irreconcilable dif- thg p. n „ lh oI S o rv ice or the cause of such discharge, 
lercnces of opinion with regard to the respective doctrine of Great Britain and other 

systems of protection and free trade, we remit the lg u ' ean povv ,. rs concerning allegiance—“once a 
discussion of the subject to the people in their eon- gu)a i wav s a subject”—having at last, through 
gressional districts and the decision of Congr^ Lh e J e ffb rls 0 f'the Republican party, been abandoned, 
thereon, wholly free from Lxecutive interference or ^ tlie American idea of the individual’s right to 
dictation. „ . , ._, , transfer allegiance having been accepted by Euro- 

7. The public credit must be sacredly maintained, n nat ; on9 j 3 the duty of our government to 

and we denounce repudiation in every lorin ana e ^ wlth j oa j ou3 care the rights of adopted c-iti- 
guise. . , . | zens against the assumption of'unauthorized claims 

8. A speedy return to specie payment is demand- th “° jr f orme r govern men is, and we urge continued 

ed alike by the highest considerations ol commercial ca “ reful enc0 uragement and protection of voluntary 
morality and honest government. . , immi'-ration. 

9. We remember with gratitude the heroism and 10. °The franking privilege ought to he abolished, 
sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors of the Republic; an( j a wa7 prepared for a speedy reduction iu the 
and no act of ours shall ever detract from their justly ^ates of Ltage. 

earned fame or the full rewards of their patriotism. Among the questions which press for atten- 

10. We are opposed to all further grants of lauds tion js that which concerns the relations of capital 

io railroads or other corporations. I he public ao- an ,j j abor • and the Republican party recognizes the 
main should he held sacred to actual settlers. duty of so shaping legislation as to secure full pro- 

11. We hold that it is the duty of the govern- bect - jon an( j t | ie an i,,i e st field for capital, and for 

ment, in its intercourse with foreign nations, to eu - Jab the crpator 0 f capital, the largest opportuni- 
tivate the friendships of peace, by treating w ith all an( j a i u< t share of the mutual profits of these 

on fair and equal terms, regarding it alike dishonor- a J civilization. 

'■ what is not right or submit to twogreat se ^ Cong; 


Congress and the President 
„ _ ita1 'have only fulfilled an imperative duly in their 

Ol luesse Vliai .Cimrifoceinn f X’if 


able either to demand 

what is wrong. __,_ _ 

12. For the promotion and success of these vital easures f or t i )e suppression of violence and treas- 
principles and the support of the candidates norni- onab j e organizations in certain lately rebellious re- 
nated by this convention, we invite and cordially and for the protection of theAallot-box; and, 

cc---therefore, they are entitled to the thanks of the 

nation. .. . _ ,, 

13. We denounce repudiation of the public debt, 
in any form or disguise, as a nalional crime. We 
witness with pride the reduction of the principal of 
the debt, and of the rates of interest upon the 


welcome the co-operation of all patriotic citizens, 
without regard to previous political affiliations. 


1S72. 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, BALTIMORE, 
JULY 9th. 

We the Democratic electors of the United States, 
in convention assembled, do present the following 
principles, already adopted at Cincinnati, as essen- 


balanee, and confidently expect that our excellent 
national currency will be perfected by a speedy re- 
i sumption of specie payment. , ... 

; 14. TheRepublicanpartyisxnindfulofitsobn- 

!cations to the loyal women of America for their 
fe°r| U foBowed the •‘Liberal Republican Plat- noble devotion to the freedom. Their ad- 


1875. 

THE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM, 
ADOPTED IN MASS MEETING, 
PITTSBURG, JUNE 9th. 

We hold: . . . . ,, 

1 That ours is a Christian and not a heathen na 
tion, nml that the God of the Christian Scriptures is 
the author of civil government. .. 

2. That God requires and man needs a Sabbath 

3. That the prohibition of the importation, manu¬ 
facture, ami sale of intoxicating drinks as a bever¬ 
age is tlie true policy on the temperance question 

4. The charters of all secret lodges granted by 
our federal and state legislatures should he with¬ 
drawn, and their oaths prohibited by law. 

5. That the civil equably secured to all Amen 
can citizens by articles 13th, 14th, and 15th of our 
amended constitution should be preserved inviolate. 

6. That arbitration of differences with nations is 
the most direct and sure method of securing and 
perpetuating a permanent peace, 

7. That to cultivate the intel'ect without, improv 
Ing'the morals of men is to make mere adepts and 
experts: therefore, the Bible should be associated 
witu hooks of science and literature in all our educa¬ 
tional institutions. 

8. That laud and other monopolies should he dis¬ 
countenanced. .. , 

9. That the government should furnish the people 
with an ample and sound currency aud a return to 
specie pavment, as soon as practicable. 

10. That maintenance of the public credit, pro¬ 
tection to all loyal citizens, and justice to Indians 
are essential to the honor and safety of our nation. 

11. And, finally, we demand for the American 
•eop'le the abolition of electoral colleges, and a direct 
vote for President and Vice President of the United 
States. 


Eighth. The freo use of the Bible, not as a ground 
of religious creeds, but as a text-book of purest 
morality, tho best liberty, and the noblest literature 
in our public schools, that our children may grow 
up in its light, and that its spirit aud principles 
mav pervade our nation. . 

Ninth. The separation of the government in all 
its departments and institutions, including the 
public schools and all funds for their maintenance, 
from the control of every religious sect or other asso¬ 
ciation, and tho protect! m alike of all sects by 
equal laws, with entire freedom of religious faith 

'YTt/n The introduction into all treaties hereafter 
negotiated with foreign governments of a provision 
for the amicable settlement of international ditficui- 
lies by arbitration. , - , 

Eleventh. The abolition of all barbarous modes and 
instruments of punishment; the recognition of the 
laws of God and the claims of humanity in the 
discipline of jails and prisons, and of that higher 
and wiser civilization worthy of our age and nation, 
which regards the reform of criminals as a means 
for the prevention of crime. , 

Tn'elfth. The abolition of executive and legislative 
patronage, and tho election of President, Vice- 
President, United States Senators, and of all civil 
officers, so far as practicable, by tho direct vote ol 
the people. , ,, , , 

Thirteenth. The practice of a friendly and liberal 
policy to immigrants from all nations, the guaranty 
to them of ample protection, aud of equal rights and 
privileges. 

Fourteenth. The separation of the money of gov¬ 
ernment from all banking institutions. The na¬ 
tional government, only, should exercise the high 
prerogative of issuing paper money, and that should 
he subject to prompt redemption on demand, in 
gold and silver, the only equal standards of value 
recognized by the civilized world. 

Fifteenth. The reduction of the salaries of public 
officers in a just ratio with the decline of wages and 
market prices; the abolition of sinecures, unneces¬ 
sary offices, and official fees and perquisites; the 
practice of strict economy in government expenses ; 
and a free and thorough investigation into any and 
all alleged abuses of public trusts. 



Ill 

Syracuse 


CLEVE- 


[Here 

form”: which see above.] 


1 mission to wider fields of usefulness is viewed with 
satisfaction; and the honest demand of any class of 
citizens for additional rights should he treated with 
J respectful consideration 


15. We heartily approve the action cf Congress in 


1S72. 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, JUNE 5th. extending amnesfy to lliose lat Iv in rebellion', and 

The Republican party of the United States, as- rejoice in the growth of peace and fraternal feeling 
semhled iu national convention in the city of Phila- throughout the land. 

delphia, on the 5th and Cth days of June, 1872, again i 6 . The Republican party proposes to respect the 
declares its faith, appeals to its history, and rights reserved by the people to themselves as care- 
annouuces its position upon the questions before the fully ^^^ral government 7 ‘Yt disapproves of 
C T paring eleven years of supremacy It has ae- the resort to ^oonstituHonal laws for ithe purpose 


cented with grand courage, the solemn duties of the j of removing evils, by interference witli^ rights not 
time. ’ It suppressed a gigantic rebellion, emanct- surrendered by the 
1 nated four millions of slaves, decreed the equal (nationalgovernment, 
citizenship of all, and established universal suffrage. | 17. It is the duly of the general government t 

Exhibiting unparalleled magnanimity, it crirnt- adopt such measures as may tend to encourage anc. 
ntllv punished no man for political offences, and restore American commerce and shtp-butldiDg. 
warmly welcomed all who proved their loyalty by ( 18. We believe that the modest patriotism, the 

obeying the laws ami dealing justly with their earnest purpose, the sound judgment, the practical 
neighbors It has s'eadilv decreased, with firm ; wisdom, the incorruptibleintegrity, and the tllustn- 
hand ttie resultant disorders of a great war, and in- ous services of Ulysses 8. Grant have commended 
itiated a w ise a::d humane policy toward the him to the heart of the American people; and with 
Indians. The Pacific railroad and similar vast en- him at our head, we start to-day upon a new march 
ternrise's have been generously aided and successfully to victory. . 

conducted, the public lands'freely given to actual j 19. Henry Wilson, nominated for the A ice-Prosi- 
settlers, immigration p ' ~ " A 

a full aekiiowledginen 
rights secured from Et , , 

national currency has been provided, repudiation 
frowned down, the national credit sustained under 
the most extraordinary burdens, and new bonds 
negotiated at lower rates. The revenues have been 
carefully collected and honestly applied. Despite 
annual large reductions of the rates of taxation, the 
public deb has been reduced during General Grant s 
presidency at the rate of a hundred millions a year, 
great financial crises have boeen avoided, and peace 
and plenty prevail throughout the land. Men¬ 
acing foreign difficulties have been peacefully and 
honorably compromised, and the honor and power 
of Ihe nation kept, in high respect throughout the 


1S76. 

PROHIBITION REFORM PLATFORM, 

LAND, OHIO, MAY 17th. 

The Prohibition Reform party of the United 
States, organized in the name of the people, to re¬ 
vive enforce, and perpetuate in the government the 
doctrines of the Declaration of Independence, sub¬ 
mit, in this centennial year of the republic, for the 
suffrages of all good citizens, the following platform 
of national reforms and measures: 

First. The legal prohibition m the District of 
Columbia, the territories, and in every other place 
subject to the laws of Congress, of the importation, 
exportation, manufacture, ami traffic of all alcoholic 
beverages, as high crimes against society; an amend¬ 
ment of the national constitution, to render these 
prohibitory measures universal and permanent; and 
the adoption of treaty stipulations with foreign 
powers, to prevent the importation and exportation 
of ail alcoholic beverages. , . , , , 

Second. The abolition of class legislation, and of 
special privileges!'! the government, and the adop¬ 
tion of equal suffrage and i ligihili y to office, with¬ 
out distinction of race, religious cieed, property, or 


24 


emanci- surrendered by the people to either the state or The a p pr0 priation of the public lands, in 

limited "quantities, to actual settlers only; the re¬ 
duction of theratesof inland and ocean postage; of 
telegraphic communication; of railroad and water 
transportation and travel, to the lowest practical 
point, by force of laws, wisely and justly framed, 
with reference, not only to the interest of capital 
employed, but to the higher claims of the general 

^Fourth. The suppression, hv laws, of lotteries and 
gambling iu gold, stocks, produce, and every form of 
money and property, aud the penal inhibition of the 
use of the public mails for advertising schemes of 
gambling and lotteries. 

Fifth. The abolition of those foul enormities, po- 
lvgamy and the social evil; and the protection of 
purity, peace, and happiness of homes, by ample and 
efficient legislation. . 

Sixth. The national observance of the Christian 
Sabbath, established by laws prohibiting ordinary 
labor and business in all departments of public serv¬ 
ice and private employment (works of necessity, 
charity, and religion excepted) on that day. 

Seventh. The establishment, by mandatory pro¬ 
visions in national and state constitutions, and by 
all necessary legislation, of a system of free public 
schools for the universal and forced education of all 
the youth of the land. 

26 



and representative man of American institutions, 
worthy to associate with our great leader and share 
the honors which we pledge our best efforts to bestow 
upon them. 

1S72. 

DEMOCRATIC (STRAIGHT-OUT) PLATFORM, 
LOUISVILLE, KY., SEPT. 3d. 

Whereas, A frequpnt recurrence to first principles 
and eternal vigilance against abuses are the wisest 
provisions for liberty, which is the source of prog- 
25 


1870. 

INDEPENDENT (GREENBACK) PLATFORM, 
INDIANAPOLIS, 1ND., MAY 17ih. 

The Independent party is callpd into existence by 
the necessities of tlie people, whose industries are 
prostrated, whose labor is deprived of ils just reward 
by a ruinous policy which the Republican and Dem¬ 
ocratic parties refuse to change; and, in view of the 
failure of these parties to furnish relief to tlie de¬ 
pressed industries of thecountry, thereby disappoint¬ 
ing the just holies and expectations of the suffering 
people, wo declare our principles, and invite all 
independent and patriotic men to join our ranks in 
this movement for fiuanci.il reform and industrial 
emancipation. 

First. We demand tho immediate and uncondi¬ 
tional repeal of the specie resumption act of January 
14, 1875, and the restate of our industries from ruin 
and disaster resulting from its enforcement; and we 
call upon all patriotic man to organize in every con¬ 
gressional district of tho country, with a view of 
electing representatives to Congress who will carry 
out the wishes of the people in this regard and stop 
the present suicidal aud destructive policy of con¬ 
traction. 

Second. We believe that, a United States note, 
issued directly by the government and converlilde, 
on demand, into United States obligations, hearing a 
rate of interest not exceeding one cent aday on each 
one hundred dollars, and exchangeable for United 
States notes at par, will afford tlii best circulating 
medium ever devised. Snell United States notes 
should ho full legal tenders for all purposes, except 
for Ihe payment of such obligations as are, by exist¬ 
ing contracts, especially made payable in coin; and 
we hold that it is tile duty of the government to 
provide such a circulating medium, and insi-t, in the 
language of Thomas Jefferson, tiiat^ “hank paper 
must he suppressed, and tho circulation restored to 
the nation, to whom it belongs.” 

Third. It is tho paramount ditty of the govern¬ 
ment, in all its legislation, to keep in view t;io full 
development of ail legiiimate business, agricultural, 
mining, manufacturing, and commercial. 

Fourth. W© most earnestly protest against any 
further issue of gold bonds for sale in foreign mar¬ 
kets, by which wc would be made, for a long period, 
“hewers of wood and drawers of water” to foreign¬ 
ers, especially as the American people would gladly 
and promptly take at par all bonds the government 
may need to sell, provided they are made payable at 
the option of the holder, and hearing interest at 3.65 
per cent, per annum or even a lower rate. 

Fifth. We further protest against the sale of gov¬ 
ernment bonds for the purpose of purchasing silver 
lo he used as a substitute for our more convenient 
and loss fluctuating fractional currency, which, al¬ 
though well calculated to enrich owners of silver 
mines, yet in operation it will still further oppress, 
in taxation, an already overburdened people. 


1S7«. 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, CINCINNATI, 
OHIO, JUNE 14th. 

When, in Ihe economy of Providence, tills land 
was to he purged of human slavery, and when the 
strength of the government of the people, by the 
people, and for the people, was to he demonstrated, 
the Republican party came into power. Ils deeds 
have passed into history, and we look hack to them 
with pride. Incited by their memories to high aims 
for the good of our country anil mankind, and look¬ 
ing to the future with unfaltering courage, hope, and 
purpose, we, the representatives of the party, in 
national convention assembled, make the following 
declaration of principles: 

1. The United Slates of America is a nation, not 
a league. By theenmbined workings of the national 
and state governments, under their respective con¬ 
stitutions, tlie rights of every citizen are secured, at 
home and abroad, aud the common woifaro pro¬ 
moted. 

2. The Republican party has preserved these gov¬ 
ernments to tlie hundredth anniversary of the na¬ 
tion’s Inrth, and they are now embodiments of Ihe 
great truths spoken at its cradle — “That all men 
are created equal; that they are endowed by their 

27 


Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which 
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that 
for the attainment of these ends governments have 
been instituted among men, deriving their just pow¬ 
ers from tho consent of tho governed. ” Until tlieso 
truths are cheerfully obeyed, or, if need he, vigor¬ 
ously enforced, tho work of tlie Republican party is 
unfinished. 

3. Tlie permanent pacification of tho southern 

section of the Uniou, and tlie complete protection of 
all its citizens in tho free enjoyment of all their 
tights, is a duty io which the Republican parly 
stands sacredly pledged. Tlie power to provide for 
the enforcement of tlie principles embodied in tho 
recent, constitutional amendments, is vested, by those 
amendments, in the Congress of the United States; 
and we declare it to lie tlie solemn obligation of the 
legislative and executive departments of tho govern¬ 
ment to put into immediate atul vigorous exorcise 
all their constitutional powers for removing any just 
causes of discontent on the part of any class, and for 
securing to every American citizen complete liberty 
and exact equably in the exercise of all civil, polit- 
cal, and public rights. To this end, we imperatively 
demand a Congress and a Chief Executive whoso 
enurago and fidelity to these duties shall not falter 
until these results are placed beyond dispute or re¬ 
call. , 

4. In the first act of Congress signed by President 
Grant, tlie national government assumed to remove 
any doubt of its purpose to discharge all just obliga¬ 
tions to tlie public creditors, and “ solemnly pledged 
its faith to make provision at tlie earliest practicable 
period for the redemption of tlie United States notes 
in coin.” Commercial prosperity, public morals, 
and national credit demand that this prom so be ful¬ 
filled by a continuous aud steady progress to specie 
payment. 

5. Under the constitution, the President and 
heads of departments are to make nominations for 
office, the Senate is to ad vise and consent toappoint- 
lueuts, and the House of Representatives is to accuse 
and prosecute faithless officers. The best interest of 
the public service demands that these dist inctions 
ho respected; that Senators and Representatives who 
may he judges and accusers should not dictateap- 
poiutments to office. The in variable rule in appoint¬ 
ments should have reference to tlie honesty, fidelity, 
and capacity of the appointees, giving to the party 
ill power those places where harmony and vigor of 
administration require its policy to ho represented, 
hut permitting all others to he filled by persons se¬ 
lected with sole reference to tlie efficiency of tlie 
public service, and the right of all citizens to share 
in tlie honor of rendering faithful service to tlie 
country. 

6. We rejoice in the quickened conscience of tho 
people concerning political affairs, and will holdall 
public officcis toarigid responsibility, and engage 
tli it the prosecution and punishment of all who bo¬ 
trav official trusts shall be swift, thorough, and un¬ 
sparing. 

7. The public school system of the several states 
is the bulwark of the American Republic; aud, with 
a view to its security and permanence, wo recom¬ 
mend an amend ment to the constitution of tlie United 
Slate-, forbiddingtheappbeationof any public funds 
or prop Tty for tlie benefit of any schools or institu¬ 
tions under sectarian control. 

8. Tho revenue n'-cvss.-iry for current expendi¬ 
tures, and tlie obligations of tlie public debt, must 
ha largely deiivcd Ir m duties upon importations, 
which, so far as possible, sliou d lie adjusted to pro¬ 
mote the interests of American labor aud advance 
the prosperity of tho whole country. 

9. We re-affirm our opposition to further grants of 
the public lands 10 corporations and monopolies, and 
demand lhat (lie national domain he devoted to free 
homes for tho people. 

JO. It is the imperative duty of the government 
so to modify existing treaties with European govern¬ 
ments, that tlie same protection shall h i afforded to 
tlie adopted American citiz m that i- given to the 
native lorn; and that all necessary laws should lie 
passed to protect emigrants in the absence of power 
in tlie stales for that purpose. 

11. It is the immediate duty of Congress to fully 
investigate tlie effect of tlie immigration and im¬ 
portation of Mongolians upon the moral and material 
inloresis of tlie country. 

12. The Republican party recognizes, with ap¬ 
proval, tlie substantial advances recently made to¬ 
wards the establishment of equal rights for women 
by tlie many important amendments effected by Re¬ 
publican legislatures in tlie laws which concern the 
personal and property relations of wives, mothers, 
and widows, and by tlie appointment and election 
of women to the superintendence of education, chari¬ 
ties, aud other public trusts. Tlie honest demands 
of this class of citizens for additional rights, privi- 
leg"-, and immunities, should he treated with re¬ 
spectful consideration. 

13. Tlie constitution confers upon Congress sover¬ 
eign power over the territories of the United States 
for their government; and in tho exercise of ibis 
power it is the right and duty of Congress to prohibit 
and extirpate, in the territories, that relic of barbar¬ 
ism—p lygamy; and we demand such legislation as 
shall secure this end and the supremacy of American 
institulions in all the territories. 

14. Tlie pledges which tlie nation has given to her 
soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled, and a grateful 
people will always hold those who imperiled their 
lives for ihe country’s preservation in tho kindest 
remembrance. 

15. We sincerely deprecate all sectional feeling 

and tendencies. We, therefore, note with deep 
solicitude that the Democratic party counts, as its 
chief hope of success, upon tlie electoral vote of a 
united south, secured through the efforts of those 
who were recently arrayed against tlie nation; and 
we invoke the earnest attention of the country to 
the grave truth that a success thus achieved would 
re-open sectional strife, and imperil national honor 
and human rights. . . 

16. -We charge the Democratic party with bein„ 
the same in character aud spirit as when it sympa¬ 
thized with treason ; with making its control ot the 
House of Representatives tho triumph and opportu¬ 
nity of the nation’s recent foes; with re-asseibug 
and applauding, in tlie national capital, the senti¬ 
ments ot unrepentant rebellion ; with sending Um<J 
soldiers to I lie rear, and promoting Confederate S> “ 
diers to the front; with deliberately proposing 
repudiate the plighted faith of tlie governmen t 
with being equally false and imbecile upon the ° V( j " 
shadowing financial questions; with thwarting 
ends of justice by its partisan mismanagement a 
obstruction ot investigation; with p.oving lusc , 

23 





























through the period of its ascendency in the lower 
house of Congress, utterly incompetent to administer 
the government; and wo warn the country against 
trusting a party thus alike unworthy, recreant, and 
incapable. 

17. The national administration merits commend¬ 
ation for its honorable work in the management of 
domestic and foreign affairs, and President Grant 
deserves the continued hearty gratitude of the 
American people for his patriotism and his eminent 
services in war and in peace. 

18. We present, as our candidates for President 
and Vice-President of the United States, two distin¬ 
guished statesmen, of eminent ability and character, 
and conspicuously fitted for those high offices, and 
we confidently appeal to the American people to 
intrust the administration of their public affairs to 
Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler. 


1876 . 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, ST. LOUIS, MO., 
JUNE 27th. 

Wc, the delegates of the Democratic party of the 
United States, in national convention assembled, do 
hereby declare the administration of the Federal 
government to be in urgent need of immediate re¬ 
form; do hereby enjoin upon the nominees of this 
convention, and of the Democratic party in each 
state, a zealous effort and co-operation to this end ; 
and do hereby appeal to our fellow-citizens of every 
former political connection to undertake, with us, 
this first and most pressing patriotic duty. 

For the Democracy of the whole country, we do 
here re-affirm our faith in the permanence of the 
Federal Union, our devotion to the constitution of 
the United States, wi'li its amendments universally 
accepted as a final settlement of the controversies 
that engendered civil war, and do here record our 
steadfast confidence in the perpetuity of republican 
self-government. 

In absolute acquiescence in the will of the major¬ 
ity—the vital principle of republics; in the suprem¬ 
acy of the civil over the military authority; in the 
total separation of church and state, for the sake 
alike of civil and religious freedom; in the equality 
of all citizens before just laws of their own enact¬ 
ment; inthelibertyoi individual conduct, unvexed 
by sumptuary laws; in the faithful education of the 
rising generation, that they may preserve, enjoy, 
and transmit these best conditions of human happi¬ 
ness and hope—we behold the noblest products of a 
hundred years of changeful history ; but while up¬ 
holding the bond of our Union and great charier of 
these our rights, it behooves a free people to pram ice 
also that eternal vigilance which is the price of lib¬ 
erty. 

Reform is necessary to rebuild and establish in the 
hearts of the whole people the Union, eleven years 
ago happily rescued from the danger of a secession 
of states, but now to be saved from a corrupt cen 
tralism which, after inflicting upon ten states the 
rapacity of carpet-bag tyranny, has honeycombed 
the offices of the Federal government itself with in¬ 
capacity, waste, and fraud; infected states and 
municipalities with the contagion of misrule; and 
locked fast the prosperity of an industrious people 
in the paralysis of “ hard times.” 

Reform is necessary to establish a sound currency, 
resiore the public credit, and maintain the national 
honor. 

We denounce the failure, for all these eleven 
years of peace, to make good the promise of the 
legal-tender notes, which are a changing standard of 
value in the hands of the people, and the non¬ 
payment of which is a disregard of the plighted 
faith of the nation. 

We denounce the improvidence which, in eleven 
years of peace, ha9 taken from the people, in fed¬ 
eral taxes, thirteen times the whole amount of the 
legal-tender notes, and squandered four times their 
sum in useless expense without accumulating any 
reserve for their redemption. 

We denounce the financial imbecility and immor¬ 
ality of that party which, during eleven years of 
peace, has made no advance toward resumption, 
no preparation for resumption, but, instead, has 
obstructed resumption, by wasting ourresources and 
exhausting all our surplus income; and, while 
annually professing to intend a speedy return to 
specie payments, has annually enacied fresh hinder- 
ances thereto. As such hinderance we denounce 
the resumption clause of the act of 1875, and we 
here demand its repeal. 

We demand a judicious system of preparation, by 
public economies, by official retrenchments, and by 
wise finance, which shall enable the nation soon to 
assure the whole world of its perfect ability and of 
its perfect readiness to meet any of its promises at 
the call of the creditor entitled to payment. We 
believe such a system, well devised, and, above all, 
intrusted to competent hands for execution, creat¬ 
ing, at no time, an artificial scarcity of currency, and 
at no time alarming the public mind into a with¬ 
drawal of that vaster machinery of credit by which 
ninety-five per cent, of all business transactions are 
performed. A system open, public, and inspiring 
general confidence, would, from the day of its adop¬ 
tion, bring healing on its wings to all our harrassed 
industries—set in motion the wheels of commerce, 
manufactures, and the mechanic arts—restore em¬ 
ployment to labor—and renew, in ail its natural 
sources, the prosperity of the people. 

Reform is necessary in the sum and modes of fed¬ 
eral taxation, to the end that capital may bo set free 
from distrust and labor lightly burdened. 

We denounce the present tariff, levied upon nearly 
four thousand articles, as a masterpiece of injustice, 
inequality, and false pretence. It yields a dwind¬ 
ling, not a yearly rising, revenue. It has impover¬ 
ished many industries to subsidize a few. It pro¬ 
hibits imports that might purchase the products of 
American labor. It has degraded American com¬ 
merce from the first to an inferior rank on the high 
seas. It has cut down the sales of American manu¬ 
factures at home and abroad, and depleted the returns 
of American agriculture—an industry followed by 
half our people. It costs the people five times more 
than it produces to the treasury, obstructs the pro¬ 
cesses of production, aud wastes the fruits of labor. 
It promotes fraud, fosters smuggling, enriches dis¬ 
honest officials, and bankrupts honest merchants. 
We demand that all custom-house taxation shall be 
only for revenue. 

Reform is necessary in the scale of public expense 
—federal, state, and municipal. Our federal taxa¬ 
tion has swollen from sixty millions gold, in 1860, to 
four hundred and fifty millions currency, in 1870; 

20 


mr aggro .'ate taxation from ono hundred and fifty- 
bur raill’ons gold, in I860, to seven hundred and 
Dirty millions currency, in 1870—or, in one decade, 
rom less than live dollars per head to more than 
ighleen dollars per head. Since the peace, tire 
people have paid to their tax-gatherers more than 
Ghrice the sum of the national debt, and more than 
twice that sum for the Federal government alone. 
Wo demand a rigorous frugality in every department 
ind from overy officer of the government. 

Reform is necessary to put a stop to ttie profligate 
waste of public lands, and their diversion from actual 
settlers, by tbe party in power, which has squan¬ 
dered 200,000,000 of acres upon railroads alone, and, 
>ut of more than thrice that aggregate, has disposed 
of less than a sixth directly to tillers of the soil. 

Reform is necessary to correct the omissions of a 
Republican Congress, and the errors of our treaties 
and our diplomacy which have stripped our fellow- 
citizens of foreign birth and kindred race, re-crossing 
the Atlantic, of the shield of American citizenship, 
and have exposed our brethren of the Pacific coast 
to the incursions of a race not sprung from the same 
great parent stock, and in fact now, by law, denied 
citizenship through naturalization, as being neither 
accustomed to the traditions of a progressive civili¬ 
zation nor exercised in liberty under equal laws. 
We denounce the policy which thus discards the 
liberty-loving German and tolerates a revival of the 
coolie" trade in Mongolian women, imported for im¬ 
moral purposes, and Mongolian men, held to perform 
iervile labor contracts, and demand such modifica¬ 
tion of the treaty with the Chinese Empire, or such 
ogislation within constititional limitations, as shall 
prevent further importation or immigration of the 
Mongolian race. 

Reform is necessary, and can never be effected but 
>y making it the controlling issue of the elections, 
nd lifting it above the two false issues with which 
i he office-holding class and the party in power seek 
to smother it: 

1. The false issue with which they would enkindle 
sectarian stiife in respect to the public schools, of 
which the establishment and support belongs exclu¬ 
sively to the several states, and which the Demo¬ 
cratic party has cherished from their foundation, 
and is resolved to maintain, without prejudice or 
preference for any class, sect, or creed, and without 
iargesses from the treasury to any. 

2. The false issue by which they seek to light 
anew the dying embers of sectional hate between 
kindred peoples once estranged, but now re-united 
in one indivisible republic aud a common destiny. 

Reform is necessary in tbe civil service. Experi¬ 
ence proves that efficient, economical conduct of the 
governmental business is not possible if its civil 
service be subject to change at every election, be a 
prize fought for at the ballot-box, be a brief reward 
of party zeal, instead of posts of honor assigned for 
proved competency, and held for fidelity in the pub¬ 
lic employ ; that the dispensing of patronage should 
neither be a tax upon the time of all our public 
men, nor the instrument of their ambition. Here, 
again, promises, falsified in the performance, attest 
that the party in power can work out no practical or 
military reform. 

Reform is necessary, even more, in the higher 
grades of the public service. President, Vice-Presi¬ 
dent, Judges, Senators, Representatives, Cabinet 
officers—these, and all others in authority—are the 
people’s servants. Their offices are not a private 
perquisite: they are a public trust. When the an¬ 
nals of this Rcpublio show the disgrace and censure 
of a Vice-President; a late Speaker of the House of 
Representatives marketing his rulings as a presiding 
officer; three Senators profi ing secretly by their 
votes as law-makers; five chairmen of the leading 
committees of the late House of Representatives ex¬ 
posed in jobbery; a late Secretary of the Treasury 
forcing balances in the public accounts; a lato Attor¬ 
ney-General misappropriating public funds; a Secre¬ 
tary of the Navy enriched, or enriching friends, by 
percentages levied off the profits of contractors with 
his department; an Ambassador to England concerned 
in a dishonorable speculation; the President’s pri¬ 
vate secretary barely escaping conviction upon trial 
for guilty complicity in frauds upon tbe revenue; a 
Secretary of War impeached for high crimes and 
misdemeanors—the demonstration is complete, that 
the first step in reform must be the people’s choice 
of honest men from another party, lest the disease 
of one political organization infect the body politic, 
and lest by making no change of men or parties we 
get no change of measures and no real reform. 

All these abuses, wrongs, aud crimes—the product 
of sixteen years’ ascendency of the Republican 
party—create a necessity for reform, confessed by 
i he Republicans themselves; but their reformers are 
voted down in convention, and displaced from the 
cabinet. The party’s mass of honest voters is pow 
erless to resist the 80,000 office-holders, its leaders 
and guides. .... 

Reform can only be had by a peaceful civic revo¬ 
lution. We demand a change of system, a change 
if administration, a chango of parties, that we may 
have a change of measures and of men. 

Resolved, That this convention, representing tno 
Democratic party of the United States, do cordially 
endorse the action of the present House of Repre¬ 
sentatives, in reducing and curtailing the expenses 
J the Federal government, in cutting down salaries 
and extravagant appropriations, and in aoolishing 
useless offices and places not required by the public 
necessities i and. we shall trust to the firmness of^ the 
Democratic members of the House that no committee 
if conference and no misinterpretation of the rules 
s ill be allowed to defeat these wholesome measures 
;f economy demanded by the country. 

Resolved, That the soldiers and sailors of the re¬ 
public and the widows and orphans of those who 
have fallen in battle, have a just claim upon the 
care, protection, and gratitude of their fellow-citi¬ 
zens. 


1878 . 

NATIONAL PLATFORM, TOLEDO, OHIO, 
FEBRUARY 22d. 

Whereas Throughout our entire country the value 
-ealestate is depreciated, industry paralyzed, trade 
Dressed, business incomes and wages reduced, utt- 
alleled distress inflicted upon the poorer and 
ddle rauksof our people, the land fillea with fraud, 
bezzlement, bankruptcy, crime, suffering, pau- 
rism, and starvation ; and 

Whereas, This state of things lias been brought 
nit by legislation in the interest of, and dictated 
, money-lenders, bankers, and bondholders; and 
30 


Whereas, While wo recognize the fact that, the 
men in Congress connected with the old political 
parties have stood up manfully for tho rights of the 
people, and met the threats of the money power, and 
the ridicule of an ignorant and subsidized press, yet 
neither the Republican nor the Democratic parties, 
in their policies, propose remedies for the existing 
evils; and 

Whereas, The Independent Greenback party, and 
other associations more or less effective, have been 
unable, hitherto, to make a formidable opposition 
to old party organizations; and 

Whereas, The limiting of the legal-tender quality 
of the greenbacks, tho changing of currency bonds 
into coin bonds, the demonetization of the silver 
dollar, the exempting of bonds from taxation, the 
contraction of the circulating medium, the proposed 
forced resumption of specie payments, and the prod¬ 
igal waste of the public lands, were crimes against 
the people; and, as far as possible, tbe results of these 
criminal acts must be counteracted by judicious leg¬ 
islation : 

Therefore, We assemble in national convention and 
make a declaration of our principles, and invite all 
patriotic citizens to unite in an effort to secure finan¬ 
cial reform and industrial emancipation. The organ¬ 
ization shall be known as the “ National Party',” and 
under this name we will perfect, without delay, na¬ 
tional, state, and local associations, to secure the 
election trb office of such men only as will pledge 
themselves to do all in their power to establish these 
principles: 

First. It is the exclusive function of the general 
government to coin and create money' and regulate 
its value. All bank issues designed to circulate as 
money should be suppressed. The circulating me¬ 
dium, whether of metal or paper, shall be issued by 
the government, and made a full legal-tender for all 
debts, duties, and taxes in the United States, at its 
stamped value. 

Second. There shall be no privileged class of cred¬ 
itors. Official salaries; pensions, bonds, and all 
other debts and obligations, public and private, shall 
be discharged in the legal-tender money of theUnited 
States, strictly according to the stipulations of the 
laws under which they were contracted. 

Third. The coinageof silver shall be placed on the 
same footing as that of gold. 

Fourth. Congress shall provide said money ade¬ 
quate to the full employment of labor, tho equitable 
distribution of its products, and the requirements of 
business, fixing a minimum amount per capita of the 
population as near as may be, and otherwise regu¬ 
lating its value by wise and equitable provisions of 
law, so that the rate of interest will secure to labor 
its just reward. 

Fifth. It is inconsistent with the genius of popu¬ 
lar government that any species of private property 
should be exempt from bearing its proper share of 
the public burdens. Government bonds and money 
should be taxed precisely as other property, and a 
graduated income tax should he levied for the sup¬ 
port of the government and the payment of its debts. 

Sixth. Public lands are the common property of 
the whole people, and should not be sold to specula¬ 
tors nor granted to railroadsor other corporations, but 
should be donated to actual settlers, in limited quan¬ 
tities. 

Seventh. The government should, by general en¬ 
actments, encourage the development of our agricul¬ 
tural, mineral, mechanical, manufacturing, and com¬ 
mercial resources, to the end that labor maybe fully 
and profitably employed; but no monopolies should 
be legalized. 

Eighth. All useless offices should he abolished, 
the most rigid economy favored in every branch of 
of the public service, and severe punishmentinflicted 
upon public officers yvho betray the trusts reposed in 
them. 

Ninth. As educated labor has devised means for 
multiplying production by inventions and discov¬ 
eries, and as their use requires the exercise of mind 
as well as body, such legislation should be had that 
the number of hours of daily toil will be reduced, 
giving to the working classes more leisure for mental 
improvement and their several enjoyments, and sav¬ 
ing them from premature decay and death. 

Tenth. The adoption of an American monetary 
system, as proposed herein, will harmonize all differ¬ 
ences in regard to tariff and federal taxation, reduce 
and equalize the cost of transportation by land and 
water, distribute equitably the joint earnings of 
capital and labor, secure to the producers of wealth 
the results of their labor and skill, and muster out 
of service the vast army of idlers, who, under the 
existing system, grow rich upon the earnings of 
others, that every man and woman may, by their 
own efforts, secure a competency, so that over¬ 
grown fortunes and extreme poverty will be seldom 
found within the limits of our republic. 

Eleventh. Both national and state governments 
should establish bureaus of labor and industrial 
statistics, clothed with the power of gathering and 
publishing the same. 

Twelfth. That the contract system of employing 
labor in our prisons and reformatory institutions 
works great injustice to our mechanics and artisans, 
and should be prohibited. 

Thirteenth. The importation of servile labor into 
the United States from China is a problem of the 
most serious importance, aud we recommend legis¬ 
lation looking to its suppression. 

Fourteenth. We believe in the supremacy of law 
over and above all perishable material, and in the 
necessity of a party of united people that will rise 
above old party lines and prejudices. We will not 
affiliate in any degree with any of the old parties, 
but, in all cases and localities, will organize anew, as 
united National men—nominate for office and 
official positions only such persons as are clearly 
believers in and identified with this our sacred 
cause; and, irrespective of creed, color, place of 
birth, or past condition of political or other servi¬ 
tude, vote only for men who entirely abandon old 
party lines ana organizations. 


1876 . 

NATIONAL LIBERAL PLATFORM, CINCIN¬ 
NATI, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 14th. 

1. Total separation of Church and State, to he 
guaranteed by amendment of the United States 
constitution; including the equitable taxation of 
church property, secularization of the public schools, 
abrogation of Sabbatarian laws, abolition of chap¬ 
laincies, prohibitions of public appropriations for 
religious purposes, and all measures necessary to the 
same general end. 

31 


2. National protection for national citizens in 
their equal civil, political, and religious rights, to 
bo guaranteed by amendment of the United States 
constitution and afforded through the United States 
courts. 

3. Universal education, the basis of universal suf¬ 
frage in this secular Republic, to be guaranteed by 
amendment of the United States constitution, re¬ 
quiring every state to maintain a thoroughly secular¬ 
ized public school system, and to permit no child 
within its limits to grow up without a good element¬ 
ary education. 


1880 . 

INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES. 

I. Independent Republicans adhere to the re¬ 
publican principles of national supremacy, sound 
finance, and civil service reform, expressed in the 
Republican platform of 1876, in the letter of accept¬ 
ance of President Hayes, and in his message of 
1879; and they seek the realization of those princi¬ 
ples in practical laws and their efficient administra¬ 
tion. This requires, 

1. The continuance on the statute-book of laws 
protecting the rights of voters at national elections. 
But national supremacy affords no pretext for inter¬ 
ference with the local rights of communities; and 
the development of the south from its present de¬ 
fective civilization can be secured only under consti¬ 
tutional methods, such as those of President Hayes. 

2. The passage of laws which shall deprive green¬ 
backs of their legal-tender quality, as a first step 
toward their ultimate withdrawal and cancellation, 
and shall maintain all coins made legal tender at 
such weight and fineness as will enable them to be 
used without discount in the commercial transac¬ 
tions of the world. 

3. The repeal of the acts which limit the terms of 
office of certain government officials to four years; 
the repeal of the tenure-of-office acts, which limit 
the power of the executive to remove for cause; the 
establishment of a permanent civil service commis¬ 
sion, or equivalent measures, to ascertain, by open 
competition, aud certify to the President or other 
appointing power the fitness of applicants for nomi¬ 
nation or appointment to all non-political offices. 

II. Independent Republicans believe that local 
issues should be independent of party. The words 
Republican and Democrat should have no weight in 
determining whether a school or city shall be ad¬ 
ministered on business principles by capable men. 
With a view to this, legislation is asked which shall 
prescribe for the voting for local and lor state offi¬ 
cers upon separate ballots. 

III. Independent Republicans assert that a politi¬ 
cal party is a co-operatiou of voters to secure the 
practical enactment into legislation of political con¬ 
victions set forth as its platform. Every voter 
accepting that platform is a member of that party; 
any representative of that party opposing the prin¬ 
ciples or evading the promises of its platform forfeits 
the support of its voters. No voter should be held 
by the action or nomination of any caucus or con¬ 
vention of his party against his private judgment. 
It is his duty to vote against bad measures and unfit 
men, as the only means of obtaining good ones; and 
if his party no longer represents its professed prin¬ 
ciples in its practical workings, it is his duty to vote 
against it. 

IV. Independent Republicans seek good nomina¬ 
tions through participation in the primaries and 
through the defeat of bad nominees ; they will labor 
for the defeat of any local Republican "candidate, 
aud, in co-operation with those holding like views 
elsewhere, for the defeat of any general Republican 
candidate whom they do not deem fit. 


1880 . 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, CHICAGO, ILLI¬ 
NOIS, JUNE 2d. 

The Republican party, in national convention 
assembled, at the end of twenty years since the 
Federal government was first committed to its 
charge, submits to the people of the United States 
this brief report of its administration: 

It suppressed a rebellion which had armed nearly 
a million of men to subvert the national authority. 
It reconstructed the union of the states with free¬ 
dom, instead of slavery, as its corner-stone. It 
transformed four millions of human beings from the 
likeness of things to the rank of citizens. It re¬ 
lieved Congress from the infamous work of hunting 
fugitive slaves, and charged it to see that slavery 
does not exist. 

It has raised the value of our paper currency Irom 
thirty-eight per cent, to the par of gold, "it has 
restored, upon a solid basis, payment in coin for all 
the national obligations, and has given us a currency 
absolutely good and equal in every part of our ex¬ 
tended country. It has lifted the credit of the 
nation from the point where six per cent, bonds sold 
at eighty-six to that where four per cent, bonds are 
eagerly sought at a premium. 

Under its administration railways have increased 
from 31,000 miles in 1860, to more than 82,000 miles 
in 1S79. 

Our foreign trade has increased from 1700,000,000 
to $1,150,000,000 in the same time ; and our exports, 
which were $20,000,000 less than our imports in 1S60, 
were $264,000,000 more than our imports in 1879. 

Without resorting to loans, it has, since the war 
closed, defrayed the ordinary expenses of govern¬ 
ment, besides the accruing interest on the public 
debt, and disbursed, annually, over $30,000,000 for 
soldiers’ pensions. It has paid $SS8,000,000 of the 
public debt, and, by re-funding the balance at lower 
rates, has reduced the annual interest charge from 
nearly $151,000,000 to less than $89,000,000. 

All the industries of the country have revived, 
labor is in demand, wages have increased, and 
throughout the entire country there is evidence of 
a coming prosperity greater than we have ever en¬ 
joyed. 

Upon this record, the Republican party asks for 
the continued confidence ami support of the people; 
and Ibis convention submits for their approval the 
following statement of the principles and purposes 
which will continue to guide and inspire its efforts: 

1. We affirm that the work of the last twenty 
vears has been such as to commend itself to the 
Javorof the nation, and that the fruits of the costly 
victories which we have achieved, through im¬ 
mense difficulties, should be preserved; that the 
peace regained should be cherished; t hat that dissev¬ 
ered Union, now happily restored, should be perpet¬ 


uated, and that the liberties secured to this genera¬ 
tion should be transmitted, undiminished, to future 
generations; that the order established and the 
credit acquired should never be impaired ; that the 
pensions promised should be paid ; that the debt so 
much reduced should be extinguished by the full 
payment of every dollar thereof; that the reviving 
industries should be further promoted ; and that the 
commerce, already so great, should be steadily en¬ 
couraged. 

2. The constitution of the United States is a 
supreme law, and not a mere contract; out of con¬ 
federate states it made a sovereign nation. Some 
powers are denied to tho nation, while others are de¬ 
nied to states; but the boundary between the powera 
delegated and those reserved is to be determined by 
the national and not by the state tribunals. 

3. The work of popular education is one left to 
the care of the several states, but it la the duty of 
the national government to aid that work to the ex¬ 
tent of its constitutional ability. The intelligence 
of the nation is but the aggregate of the intelligence 
in the several states; and the destiny of the nation 
must be guided, not by the genius of any one state, 
but by the average genius of all. 

4. The constitution wisely forbids Congress to 
make any law respecting an establishment of relig¬ 
ion ; but it is idie to hope that the nation can be 
protected against the influences of sectarianism 
while each state is exposed to its domination. We, 
therefore, recommend that the constitution be so 
amended as to lay the same prohibition upon the 
legislature of each state, to forbid the appropria¬ 
tion of public funds to the support of sectarian 
schools. 

5. We re-affirm the belief, avowed in 1876, that 
the duties levied for the purpose of revenueshould so 
discriminate as to favor American labor; that no 
further grant of the public domain should be made 
to any railway or other corporation; that slavery 
having perished in the states, its twin barbarity— 
polygamy—must die in the territories; that every¬ 
where the protection accorded to citizens of Ameri¬ 
can birth rnu-t 1)9 secured to citizens by American 
adoption. That we esteem it the duty of Congress to 
develop and improve our water-courses and harbors, 
but insist that further subsidies to private persons 
or corporations must cease. That the obligations of 
the republic to the men whopreserved its integrity in 
the day of battle are unditninished by the lapse of 
fifteen years since their final victory—to do therm 
perpetual honor is, and shallforever be, the grateful’ 
privilege and sacred duty of the American people. 

6. Since the authority to regulate immigration 
and intercourse between the United States and 
foreign nations rests with the Congress of the United 
States aud its treaty-making powers, the Republican 
party, regarding the unrestricted immigration of the 
Chinese as an evil of great magnitude, invoke the 
exercise of that power to restrain and limit that im¬ 
migration by the enactment of such just, humane, 
and reasonable provisions as will produce that result. 

7. That the parity and patriotism which charac¬ 
terized the earlier career of Rutherford B. Hayes in 
peace and war, and which guided the thoughts of 
our immediate predecessors to select him for a presi¬ 
dential candidate, have continued to inspire him in 
his career as chief executive, and that hi-tory will 
accord to his administration the honors which are 
due to an efficient, just, and courteous discharge of 
the public business, and will honor his interpositions 
between the people and proposed partisan laws. 

8. We charge upon the Democratic party the ha¬ 
bitual sacrifice of patriotism and justice to a su¬ 
preme and insatiable lust for office and patronage. 
Thattoobtain possession of the national and state 
governments, and the control of place and position, 
they have obstructed all efforts to promote the 
purity and to conserve the freedom of suffrage; 
have devised fraudulent certifications and returns; 
have labored to unseat lawfully-elected members of 
Congress, to secure, at all hazards, the vote of a 
majority of the states in the House of Representa¬ 
tives; h ive endeavored to occupy, by force and 
fraud, the places of trust given to others by the 
people of Maine, and rescued by the courageous ac¬ 
tion of Maine’s patriotic sons; have, by methods 
vicious in principle and tyrannical in practice, 
atttached partisan legislation to appropriation bills, 
upon whose passage the very movements of govern¬ 
ment depend; have crushed the rights of the indi¬ 
vidual; have advocated the principle and sought 
the favor of rebellion against the nation, and have 
endeavored to obliterate the sacred mt mories of the 
war, and to overcome itsinestimaldy valuable results 
of nationality, personal freedom, and individual 
equality. Equal, steady, and complete enforcement 
of the laws and protection of r11 our citizens in the 
enjoyment of all privileges and immunities guaran¬ 
teed by the constitution are the first duties of the 
nation. The danger of a solid south can only be 
averted by the faithful performance of every prom¬ 
ise which the nation made to the citizen. The exe¬ 
cution of the laws and the punishment of all those 
who violate them are the only safe methods by 
which an enduring peace can be secured and genu¬ 
ine prosperity established throughout the south. 
Whatever promises the nation makes, the nation 
must perform; and the nation can not with safety 
relegate this duty to the states. The solid south 
must bo dirided by the peaceful agencies of the 
ballot, and all opinions must there find free expres¬ 
sion ; and to this end honest voters must be protected 
against terrorism, violence, or fraud. And we affirm 
it to be the duty and the purpose of the Republican 
party to use all legitimate means to restore all the 
states of this Union to the most perfect harmony 
whieli may he practicable; a d we submit to the 
practical, sensible people of tho United St ites to say 
whether it would not be dangerous to the dearest 
interests of our country, at this time, to surrender 
the administration of the national government to a 
party which seeks to (verthrow the existing policy, 
under which we are so prosperous, and thus bring 
distrust and confusion where there is now order, 
confidence, and hope. 

9. The Republican party, adhering to a principle 
affirmed by its last national convention, of respect 
for the constitutional rule covering appointments to 
office, adopts the declaration of President Haves, 
that the reform of the civil service should be 
thorough, radical, and complete. To this end it 
demands the co operation of the legislative with 
the executive department of the government, and 
that Congress shall so legislate that fitness ascer¬ 
tained by proper practical tests, shall admit to the 
public service; and that the power of removal for 
cause, with due responsibility for the good conduct 
of subordinates, shall accompany the power of ap¬ 
pointment. 

33 





















1880 . 


NATIONAL 


LL (GREENBALE) PLATFORM, CHI¬ 
CAGO, ILLINOIS, JUNE 9th. 

The civil government should guarantee the divine 
nght of ©very laborer to the results o* his toil, thus 
enabling the producers of wealth to provide them¬ 
selves with the means for physical comfort and facil¬ 
ities for mental, social, and moral culture: and we 
condemn, as unworthy of our civilization, the 
barbarism which imposes upon wealth-producers a 
state of drudgery as the price of a bare animal ex¬ 
istence. ^ Notwithstanding the enormous increase of 
productive power by the universal introduction of 
labor-saving machinery and the discovery of new 
agents for the increase of wealth, the task of the 
laborer is scarcely lightened, the hours of toil are 
but little shortened, and few producers are lifted 
from poverty into comfort and pecuniary independ¬ 
ence. The associated monopolies, the international 
syndicates, and other income classes demand dear 
money, cheap labor, and a strong government, and, 
hence, a weak people. Corporate control of the 
volume of money has been the means of dividing 
society into hostile classes, of an unjust distribution 
of the products of labor, and of building up monop¬ 
olies of associated capital, endowed with power to 
confiscate private property. It has kept money 
scarce; and the scarcity of money enforces debt- 
trade, and public and corporate loans; debt engen¬ 
ders usury, and usury ends in the bankruptcy of 
the borrower. Other results are—deranged markets, 
uncertainty in manufacturing enterprises and agri¬ 
culture, precarious and intermittent employment 
for the laborer, industrial war, increasing pauperism 
and crime, and the consequent intimidation and dis¬ 
franchisement of the producer, and a rapid declen¬ 
sion into corporate feudalism; Therefore, we de¬ 
clare— 

First. That the right to make and issue money is 
a sovereign power, to be maintained by the people 
for their common benefit. The delegation of this 
right to corporations is a surrender of the central 
attribute of sovereigaty, void of constitutional sanc¬ 
tion, and conferring upon a subordinate and irrespon¬ 
sible power an absolute dominion over industry and 
commerce. All money, whether metallic or paper, 
should be issued, and its volume controlled, by the 
government, and not by or through banking corpo¬ 
rations; and, when so issued, should be a full legal 
tender for all debts, public and private. 

Second. That the bonds of the United States should 
not be re-funded, but paid as rapidly as practicable, 
according to contract. To enable the government to 
meet these obligations, legal-tender currency should 
be substituted for the notes of the national banks, 
the national banking system abolished, and the un¬ 
limited coinage of silver, as well as gold, established 
by law. 

Third. That labor should be so protected by na¬ 
tional and state authority as to equalize its burdens 
and insure a just distribution of its results. The 
eight hour law of Congress should be enforced, the 
sanitary condition of industrial establishment* 
placed under rigid control, the competition of con¬ 
tract convict labor abolished, a bureau of labor sta¬ 
tistics established, factories, mines, and workshops 
inspected, the employment of children under four¬ 
teen years of age forbidden, and wages paid in cash. 

Fourth. Slavery being simply cheap labor, and 
cheap labor beiugsimply slavery, the importation 
and presence of Chinese serfs necessarily tends to 
brutalize and degrade American labor; therefore, 
immediate steps should be taken to abrogate the 
Burlingame treaty. 

Fifth. Railroad land grants forfeited by reason of 
non-fulfillment of contract should be immediately 
reclaimed by the government, and, henceforth, the 
public domain reserved exclusively as homes for 

optim ( Rpttlpm 

Sixth. It is the duty of Congress to regulate 
inter-state commerce. All lines of communication 
and transportation should be brought under such 
legislative control as shall secure moderate, fair, and 
uniform rates for passenger and freight traffic. 

Sei>enth. We denounce as destructive to property 
and dangerous to liberty the action of the old parties 
in fostering and sustaining gigantic land, railroad, 
and money corporations, and monopolies invested 
with and exercising powers belonging to the govern 
ment, and yet not responsible to it for the maimer 
of their exercise. 

Eighth. That the constitution, in giving Congress 
the power to borrow money, to declare war, to raise 
and support armii s, to provide and maintain a navy, 
neverintended that the men who loaned their money 
for an interest-consideration should be preferred to 
the soldiers and sailors who peril'd their lives and 
shed their blood on land and sea in defence ef their 
country; and we condemn the cruel class legislation 
of the Republican party, which, while professing 
great gratitude to tne soldier, has most unjustly 
discriminated against him and in favor of the bond¬ 
holder. 

Firth. All property should bear its just propor¬ 
tion of taxation, and we demand a graduated income 
tax. 

Tenth. We denounce as dangerous the efforts 
everywhere manifest to restrict the right of suffrage. 

Eleventh. We are opposed to an increase of the 
standing army in time of peace, and tlie insidious 
scheme to establish an enormous military power 
under the guise of militia laws. 

Twelfth. We demand absolute democratic rule? 
for the government of Congress, placing all repre¬ 
sentatives of the people upon an equal footing, and 
taking away from committees a veto power greater 
than that of the President. 

Th irteenth. We demand a government of the peo¬ 
ple, by the people, and for the people, instead of a 
government of the bondholder, hy the bondholder, 
and for the bondholder; and we denounce every 
attempt to stir up sectional strife as an effort to con¬ 
ceal monstrous crimesagainst the people. 

Fourteenth. In the furtherance of these ends we 
ask the co-operation of all fair-minded people. Wt 
have no quarrel with individuals, wage no war on 
classes, but only against vicious institutions. W< 
are not content to endure further discipline from out 
present actual rulers, who, having dominion over 
money, over transportation, over laud and labor, 
over the press and the machinery of government, 
wield unwarrantable power over our institutions 
and over life and property, 


1880 . 

PROHIBITION REFORM PLATFORM, CLEVE¬ 
LAND, OHIO, JUNE 17th. 

The Prohibition Reform party of the United States, 
organized, in the name of the people, to revive, en¬ 
force, and perpetuate in the government the doctrines 
of the Declaration of Independence, submit, for the 
suffrage of all good citizeus, the following platform of 
national reforms and measures: 

In the examination and discussion of the temper¬ 
ance question, it has been proven, and is an accepted 
truth, that alcoholic drinks, whether fermented, 
brewed, or distilled, are poisonous to the healthy 
human body, the drinking of which is not only need¬ 
less but hurtful, necessarily tending to form intem¬ 
perate habits, increasing greatly the number, severi¬ 
ty, and fatal termination of diseases, weakening and 
deranging the intellect, polluting the attoctions, 
hardening the heart and corrupting the morals, de¬ 
priving many of reason and still more of its healthful 
exercise, and annually bringing down large numbers 
to untimely graves, producing in the children of 
many who drink a predisposition to iutemperance, 
insanity, and various bodily and mental diseases, 
causing diminution of strength, feebleness of vision, 
fickleness of purpose, and premature old age, and in¬ 
ducing, in all future generations, deterioration.of 
moral and physical character. Alcoholic drinks are 
thus the implacable foe of man as an individual 

First. The legalized importation, manufacture, and 
sile of intoxicating drinks ministersto their use, and 
teaches tire erroneous and destructive sentiment, that 
such use is right, thus tending to produce and per¬ 
petuate the above mentioned evils. 

Second. To the home, it is an enemy—proving it¬ 
self to be a disturber and destroyer of its peace, pros¬ 
perity, and happiness; taking from it the earning! 
of the husband ; depriving the dependent wife and 
children of essential food, clothing, and education; 
bringing into it profanity, abuse, and violence ; set¬ 
ting at naught the vowsof the marriage altar ; break¬ 
ing up the family and sundering the children from 
the parents, and thus destroying one of the most be¬ 
neficent institutions of our c reator, and removing 
the sure foundation of good government, national 
prosperitv and welfare. 

Third. 'To the community it is equally an enemy- 
producing vice, demoralization, and wickedness; its 
places of sale being resorts of gaming, lewdness, and 
debauchery, and the hiding-place of those who prey 
upon society ; counteracting the efficacy of religious 
effort, and of all means of intellectual elevation, 
moral puritv, social happiness, and the eternal good 
of mankind^ without rendering any counteracting or 
compensating benefits ; being in its influence and ef¬ 
fect evil and onlv evil, and that continually. 

Fourth. To the" state it is equally an enemy—legis¬ 
lative inquiries, judicial Investigations, and official 
reports of all penal, reformatory, and dependent in¬ 
stitutions showing that the manufacture and sale of 
such beverages is the promoting cause of intemper¬ 
ance, crime, and pauperism, and of demands upon 
public and private charity, imposing the larger part of 
taxation, paralyzing t Drift, industry, manufactures, 
and commercial life, which, but for it, would be un¬ 
necessary ; disturbing the peace of streets and high¬ 
ways; filling prisons and poor-houses; corrupting 
politics, legislation, and the execution of the laws ; 
shortening lives; diminishing health, industry, and 
productive power in manufactures and art; and is 
manifestly unjust as well as injurious to the commu¬ 
nity upon which it is imposed, and is contrary to all 
just views of civil liberty, as well as a violation of the 
fundamental maxim of our common law, to use your 
own property or liberty so as not to injure others. 

Fifth It is neither right nor politic for the state to 
afford legal protection to any traffic or any system 
which tends to waste the resources, to corrupt the 
social habits, and to destroy the health and lives of 
the people; that the importation, manufacture, and 
sale of intoxicating beverages is proven to be inimical 
to the true interests of the individual home, commu¬ 
nity, and state, and destructive to the order and 
welfare of society, and ought, therefore, to be classed 
among crimes to be prohibited. 

Sixth, in this time of profound peace at home and 

abroad, the entire separation of the general govern¬ 
ment from the drink-traffic, and its prohibition in the 
District of Columbia, territories, and in all places and 
ways over which, under the constitution, Congress 
has c ontrol and power, is a political issue of the first 
importance to the peace and prosperity of the nation. 
There can he no stable peace and protection to per¬ 
sonal liberty, life, or property, until secured by na¬ 
tional or state constitutional provisions, enforced In¬ 
adequate laws. . 

Seventh. All legitimate industries require deliver¬ 
ance from the taxation and loss which the liquor 
traffic imposes upon them ; and financial or other 1 
gislation could not accomplish so much to increase 
production and cause a demand for labor, and, as a 
result, for the comforts of living, as the suppression 
of this traffic would bring to thousands of homes as 
one of its blessings. 

Eighth. The administration of the government and 
the execution of the laws are through political par¬ 
ties; and we arraign the Republican party, which 
has been in contin uous power in the nation for twenty 
years, as being false to duty, as false to loudly-pro¬ 
claimed principles of equal justice to all and special 
favors to none, and of protection to the weak and de¬ 
pendent, insensible to the mischief which the trade 
in liquor has constantly inflicted upon industry, 
trade, commerce, and the social happiness of the 
people; that 5.652 distilleries, 3,830 breweries, and 
175,266 places for the sale of these poisonous liquors, 
involving an annual waste to the nation of one million 
five hundred thousand dollars, and the sacrifice of 
one hundred thousand lives, have, under its legisla¬ 
tion, grown up and been fostered as a legitimate 
source of revenue; that during its history, six terri¬ 
tories have been organized and five states been admit¬ 
ted into the Union, with constitutions provided and 
approved by Congress, but the prohibition of this de¬ 
basing and destructive traffic has not been provided, 
nor even the people given, at the time of admission, 
lower to forbid it in any one of them. Its history 
urther shows, that not in a single instance has an 


discountenancing of all so-called temperance, prohib¬ 
itory, and Sunday laws. 

Ninth. We arraign, also, the Democratic party as 
unfaithful and unworthy of reliance on this question; 
for, although not clothed with power, but occupying 
the relation of an opposition party during twenty 
years past, strong in numbers and organization, it has 
allied itself with liquor-traffickers, and become, in all 
the states of the Union, their special political defend¬ 
ers, and in Us national convention in(l876, as an arti¬ 
cle of its political faith, declared against prohibition 
and just laws in restraint of the trade in drink, by 
saying it was opposed to what it was pleased to call 
“all sumptuary laws.” ThoNationul party has been 
dumb on this question. 

Tenth. Drink-traffickers, having the history and 
experience of all ages, climes, and conditions of men, 
declaring their business destructive of all good— 
finding no support in the Bible, morals, or reason— 
appeal to misapplied law for their justification, and 
intrench themselves behind the evil elements of po¬ 
litical party for defence, party tactics and party in¬ 
ertia become battling forces, protecting this evil. 

Eleventh. In view of the foregoing facts and his¬ 
tory, we cordially invite all voters, without regard to 
former party affiliations, to unite with us in the use 
of the ballot for the abolition of the drinking system, 
under the authority of our national and state govern¬ 
ments. We also demand, ns a right, that women, 
having the privileges of citizens in other respects, be 
clothed with the ballot for their protection, and as a 
rightful means for the proper setilemeutof the liquor 
question 

Twelfth. To remove the apprehension of some who 
allege that a loss of public revenue would follow the 
suppression of the direct trade, wo confidently point 
to the experience of governments abroad and at home, 
which shows that thrift and revenue from the con¬ 
sumption of legitimate manufactures and commerce 
have so largely followed the abolition of drink as to 
fully supply all loss of liquor taxes. 

Thirteenth. We recognize the good providence of 
Almighty God, who has preserved and prospered us 
as a nation ; and, asking for His spirit to guide us to 
ultimate success, we all look for it, relying upon His 
omnipotent ai m. 


original prohibitory law been passed by any state that 
was controlled by it, while in four states, so governed, 
the laws found on its advent to power have been re¬ 
pealed. At its national convention in 1872, it de¬ 
clared, as part of its party faith, that “ it disapproves 
of the resort to unconstitutional laws for the purpose 
of removing evils, by interference with rights not sur¬ 
rendered by the people to either the state or national 
government,” which, the author of this plank says, 
was adopted by the platform committee with the full 
and implicit understanding that its purpose was the 

35 


1 S 80 . 

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, CINCINNATI, 
OHIO, JUNE 22d. 

The Democrats of the United States, in convention 
assembled, declare: 

First. We pledge ourselves anew to the constitu¬ 
tional doctrines and traditions of the Democratic 
party, as illustrated by the teachings and examples 
of a long line of Democratic statesmen and patriots, 
and embodied in the platform of the last national 
convention of the party. 

Second. Opposition to centralization, and to that 
dangerous spirit of encroachment which tends to 
consolidate the powers of ail the departments in one, 
and thus to create, whatever the form of govern¬ 
ment, a real despotism; no sumptuary laws; separa¬ 
tion of the church and state for the good of each; 
common schools fostered and protected. 

Third. Home rule; honest money, consisting of 
gold and silver and paper, convertible into coin on 
demand ; the strict maintenance of the public faith, 
state and natiosal; and a tariff for revenue only; 
the subordination of the military to the civil power, 
and a general and thorough reform of theeivil service. 

Fourth. The right to a free ballot is a right pre¬ 
servative of all rights; and must and shall be main¬ 
tained in every part of the United States. 

Fifth. The existing administration is the repre¬ 
sen tative of conspiracy only ; and its claim of right 
to surround the ballot-boxes with troops and deputy 
marshals, to intimidate and obstruct the elections, 
and the unprecedented use of the veto to maintain 
its corrupt and despotic power, insults the people 
and imperils their institutions. We execrate the 
course of this administration in making places in 
the civil service a reward for political crime; and 
demand a reform, by statute, which shall make it 
forever impossible for a defeated candidate to bribe 
his way to the seat of a usurper by billeting villains 
upon the people. 

Sixth. The great fraud of 1876-7, by which, upon 
a false count of the electoral votes of two states, the 
candidate defeated at the polls was declared to be 
President, and, for the first time in American his¬ 
tory, the will of the people was set aside under a 
threat of military violence, struck a deadly blow at 
our system of representative government. The 
Democratic party, to preserve the country from the 
horrors of a civil war, submitted for the time, in the 
firm and patriotic belief that the people would pun¬ 
ish the crime in ls80. This issue precedes and 
dwarfs every other. It imposes a more sacred duty 
upon the people of the Union than ever addressed 
the consciences of a nation of freemen. 

Seventh. The resolution of Samui-l J. Tilden, not 
again to be a candidate for the exalted place to which 
he was elected by a majority of his countrymen, and 
from which he was excluded by the leaders or the 
Republican party, is received by the Democrats of 
the United States with deep sensibility; and they 
declare their confidence in his wisdom, patriotism, 
and integrity unshaken by the assaults of the com¬ 
mon enemy ; and they further assure him that he is 
followed into the retirement he has chosen for him¬ 
self by the sympathy and respect of his fellow- 
citizens, who regard him as one who, by elevating 
the standard of the public morality, and adorning 
and purifying the public service, merits the lasting 
gratitude of his country and his party. 

Eighth. Free ships, and a li viDg chance for Amer¬ 
ican commerce upon the seas; and on the land, no 
discrimination in favor of transportation lines, cor¬ 
porations, or monopolies. 

Ninth. Amendments of the Burlingame treaty; 
no more Chinese immigration, except for travel, 
education, and foreiga commerce, and, therein, care¬ 
fully guarded. 

Tenth. Public money and public credit for public 
purposes solely, and public land for actual settlers. 

Eleventh. The Democratic party is the friend of 
labor and the laboring man, and pledges itself to 
protect him alike against the cormorants and the 
commune. 

Twelfth. We congratulate the country »pon the 
honesty and thrift of a Democratic Congress, which 
has reduced the public expenditure $40,000,000 a 
year; upon the continuation of prosperity at home 
and the national honor abroad; and, above all, upon 
the promise of such a change in the administration 
of the government as shall insure a genuine and last¬ 
ing reform iu every department of the public service. 

36 ’ 


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